how are you
- 1An informal greeting in the form of a question, which does not expect a real account of how the person is.
"Morning, Dr. Patel, how are you?" "Good, thanks. And you?"
The cashier said "How are you?" without even looking up from the register.
Note
The question is a ritual, and so is the reply: short, upbeat and usually handed back. Formal speech gives I'm very well, thank you. How are you?, while casual talk shortens it to Fine, thanks, or Fine, and you? A real account of one's health would break the script, which is why a cashier can ask it without looking up.
- 2Used after a noun, as an exclamation, to scorn the thing named as unworthy of the name.
"Service, how are you!" he muttered after waiting forty minutes for the bill.
The council promised us a new playground. Playground how are you! It's two swings and a puddle.
Note
Irish speakers put the noun first and the scorn after, with the stress on are, so the greeting turns into a jeer. In a 1967 Dáil debate Mr. Ryan threw back "Justice, how are you!", and Jim O'Hanlon, after a Christmas marred by an incident in 2013, could only say "Christmas how are you!" It is never a real question and never stands alone.
Practice
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