| Library / English Dictionary |
HOW-DO-YOU-DO
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
An expression of greeting
Example:
every morning they exchanged polite hellos
Synonyms:
hello; hi; how-do-you-do; howdy; hullo
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("how-do-you-do" is a kind of...):
greeting; salutation ((usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting))
Sense 2
Meaning:
An awkward situation
Example:
that's a fine how-d'ye-do
Synonyms:
how-d'ye-do; how-do-you-do
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("how-do-you-do" is a kind of...):
situation (a complex or critical or unusual difficulty)
