#870 How Do You Do?, Forvo, Prince Charles, Wall

[mathewanumate]

you have very sexy voice...

[moviescinemafilm]

I'm from California and teach English in Germany. I make my students aware of this phrase, just in case, but let them know that I have only heard British people say it. My students are often confused when I tell them the response to "How do you do?" is "How do you do?" I'm confused about this too:-0

[Noah2112]

I hear 'how do you do' quite often really where I live in cent. California. Nobody thinks its 'posh' I dont think, that would depend on the inflection in wich it was spoken. The same people who use 'how do you do' to great you will also use 'howdy' and 'wazzup?' So no, I dont think its a posh way to great someone.

[Noah2112]

I spellt greet wrong.

[thedailyenglishshow]

Oh, that's interesting. Do people just use it the first time they meet someone? Or anytime? And how do people answer?

[Noah2112]

I think I might of confused 'How do you do?' with 'How are you doing?' But if you think about it, its the same thing. I usually answer with 'good 'nough' or 'the same'. Im character dont trust much of what I might post on the YouTubes.

[realenglish1]

And for the British, the usual answer to "How do you do?" is "How do you do?"

[skippyXG]

"Don't Knock it" ... An interesting expression. I don't think I've ever heard of it. I am guessing that it means "Stop making fun of it." Am I right?

[thedailyenglishshow]

Yes, that's right. One of the informal meanings of knock is "criticize". People often say: Don't knock it until you try it.

[acromel]

Well, I'm from the UK and I suppose I might be considered slightly posh. I meet a lot of people and do a lot of work in London and I don't think I've ever heard `how do you do'. I've certainly never used it.

I'd recommend a smile, a handshake, and some version of `nice to meet you'.

Bizarrely, the only correct response to someone asking you `how do you do' is to respond with `how do you do'. Weird huh?

A vestige of court etiquette probably.

[thedailyenglishshow]

Yes, that's what I thought (about the response), so how come Dorothy (in The Wizard of Oz) says "Very well, thank you" after the scarecrow says "How do you do?" Is this acceptable in the US? Or was it in 1939? Or is Dorothy stupid?

[acromel]

To be fair to the Americans, it's pretty old language and they probably just didn't know that it was a ritualised form of speech. It's really just `how are you'. Although the film's screenplay was said to be a real simplification of the book: no surprise there then!

Dorothy was just a bit naïve - and fictional ;o)

I think it's fair to say that formal language generally just makes people feel a bit uncomfortable nowadays. Especially so in the US and Aus I think.

Great vids by the way!

[roygbiv330]

when i exchanged my business card between a british woman, she said 'nice meet you.' it was here in japan. but almost all english textbooks the japanese students use have 'how do you do?.'

[JapanPlz]

How do you do in the US is more formal, and would be used if say you were meeting like the president or something.

[thedailyenglishshow]

I wonder if George Bush says it ... I can't imagine him saying "how do you do" for some reason.

[JapanPlz]

Hmm... Well now that i REALLY think about it, people more often say 'Hi, how are you'. But say, if you're at a wedding and you're meeting someone for the FIRST time you'd use it. I went to a wedding a while ago (my dads). When i met my step mom's family I said 'How do you do' maybe once or twice i think, not sure. It's VERY formal.