Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (81 page)

How's every little thing?
How're things with you? (Informal and familiar.)
B
ILL
: Hello, Tom. T
OM
: Hi, Bill. How's every little thing? B
ILL
: Couldn't be better
.
B
ILL
: Hi, Mary. How's every little thing? M
ARY
: Things are fine. How are you? B
ILL
: Fine, thanks.

How's it going?
one of the standard informal greeting inquiries.
S
UE
: How's it going? B
ILL
: Just great! How are you? S
UE
: Fine
,
thanks.
M
ARY
: How are you, Sue? S
UE
: Things just couldn't be better! I'm gloriously in love! M
ARY
: Anybody I know?

How's (it) with you?
a greeting inquiry. (Slang.)
T
OM
: Hey, man. How's with you? B
OB
: Great! And you? T
OM
: Okay
.
B
ILL
: How's with you, old buddy? J
OHN
: Can't complain. And you? B
ILL
: Couldn't be better.

How's my boy?
AND
How's the boy?
How are you? (Male to male, and familiar. The speaker may outrank the person addressed.)
B
OB
: How's my boy? B
ILL
: Hi, Tom. How are you?
F
RED
: Hello, old buddy. How's the boy? B
OB
: Hi, there! What's cooking? F
RED
: Nothing much.

How's that again?
Please say that again.; I did not hear what you said.
S
UE
: Would you like some coffee? M
ARY
: How's that again? S
UE
: I said, would you like some coffee?
T
OM
: The car door is frozen closed. B
OB
: How's that again? T
OM
: The car door is frozen closed.

How's that working for you?
Go to How's that working (out)?

How's that working (out)?
AND
How's that working for you?; How's that working out (for you)?
And how did that so-called promising idea work out? (Sometimes sarcastic or ironic.)
D
ON
: I tried to lose weight by giving up desserts. H
ANNA
: How's that working out for you?
D
ALE
: I tried a new toothpaste that isn't as sweet-tasting as the last one. I
DA
: How's that working out for you?