A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

how are you doing • how do you do
how are you doing —(also: how are you)
1
. is used to ask a
person whether everything is going well: I am not really good
at showing people how I am really feeling, you know … the
“how are you doing?” “Oh, I am doing okay” that stuff. 2. is
used as an informal greeting when meeting people and requires
no reply: We used to have short conversations every day, but
now, it’s more of a “Hi, how are you doing?”
how do you do —is used as a formal greeting when meeting
people or being introduced: “How do you do, Miss Ferrell? I
am Miss Wright.” “How do you do.”
how comes it • how goes it
how comes it—(also: how come) how or why does it happen:
How comes it that you are always late on Monday?
how goes it—(also: how’s it going) is used to ask a person
whether everything is going well: How goes it in your office
since your new boss arrived?
how ever • however
how ever —is used as a more emphatic variant of “how”:
Everything is fabulous — how ever are you going to choose?
however —
1
. in whatever manner or way: However you cal-
culate the costs, we need your estimate by tomorrow after-
noon. 2. to whatever degree: However hard he tries to balance
his responsibilities, Piech is always going to be left open to
accusations of double dealing. 3. yet; nonetheless: Tom went
on a date with a really nice girl. However, he forgot to take
his credit card with him…
how’s that • how’s that for high
how’s that—
1
. is used as an expression of surprise or praise:
I bought sandwiches with chicken … and I didn’t gain any
weight so how’s that! 2. is used to ask whether smth. is accept-
able or satisfactory: I’ll go up as high as fifteen dollars. How’s
that? 3. is used when asking smb. to repeat what the person
has just said: “My name’s Sijan.” “How’s that again?”
how’s that for high — = how’s that 
1
: How is that for high,
my hearty? Miracle! It was, by thunder!