How's it going?

Ret's Word of the Day
Two people engaged in a friendly conversation at a cozy urban café, smiling and enjoying their discussion over coffee. The background features a warm and inviting café setting with soft lighting

How's it going?

/haʊz ɪt ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

(Pronounced: howz it go-ing)
🔊 Hear it on YouGlish

Definition

Meaning: How's it going? is an informal way to ask someone how they are or how things are progressing.

Signification: Comment ça va ?; Comment ça se passe ?

Note: This phrase is commonly used in casual conversations to check in on someone's well-being or the status of a situation.

Word Analysis

French synonyms
» Comment ça va ?
» Comment ça se passe ?
» Tout va bien ?
» Quoi de neuf ?
» Ça roule ?

Exemple: "Comment ça va ? Tu as passé une bonne journée ?"

English synonyms
» How are you?
» How are things?
» What's up?
» How's everything?
» How's life?

Example: "How's it going? Did you finish the project?"
    

Example Dialogue

Thato: "How's it going with the new project?"
Seipati: "It's going well! We're making progress on the Sesotho learning app."
Thato: "That sounds exciting. How's it going with the team?"
Seipati: "Great! Everyone is working hard, and we're on track to meet our deadline."
    

Etymology

Origin: The phrase "how's it going?" is an informal expression that originated in English-speaking cultures as a casual way to inquire about someone's well-being or the progress of a situation. It reflects a conversational tone and has been widely used since the mid-20th century. The phrase combines "how" (asking about the manner or condition) with "it going" (referring to the state or progress of something).

Audience

The phrase "how's it going?" is commonly used in informal conversations to check in on someone or ask about the status of a situation.

When to use: Use "how's it going?" in casual settings, such as with friends, family, or colleagues, to ask how someone is doing or how a project or task is progressing. For example: "Hey Thato, how's it going with the new app development?"

Dictionary Meaning

The Free Dictionary says that how's it going means "How are you?" It says it is 'used as an informal greeting.'

Example given? "Hey, great to see you again! How's it going?"

News Snippet

"Know the joke about the guy who fell out of New York City's Empire State Building? As he was falling past many floors, someone asked, "How's it going?" He responded: 'So far, so good!'."

Read the full article at The Daily Maverick

Extra! Extra!

For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, how's it going?, watch the following…

Video Lesson One

Video Lesson Two

WordReference

When exploring the nuances of words, sometimes dictionaries don't provide enough context. The WordReference Forums offer insightful discussions that delve into the subtleties of language, including idiomatic expressions, usage nuances, and translations across languages.

Here are some quick links to help you navigate WordReference for deeper understanding:

» Read about today's word of the day.
» English⇄English–Discuss and learn about words and their usage.
» English⇄French–Explore translations and linguistic nuances
» Synonyms⇄Antonyms–Contextual variations, etc.

Common Idioms and Expressions

How's it going?: A casual way to ask someone how they are or how something is progressing.

Example: "Hey Thato, how's it going with the new project?"


How's things?: A slightly more general way to ask about sb's overall situation or well-being.

Example: "How's things at work these days?"


How's life?: A friendly and informal way to ask about someone's life in general.

Example: "Hey Seipati, how's life? Long time no see!"


How's it been?: A way to ask about how things have been going over a period of time.

Example: "How's it been since you started your new job?"


Subscribe here to receive our word of the day
To unsubscribe, send a message to the email you receive from.

Comments

Popular posts

Anti-vaxxer

It’s not quite what I had in mind

Beat around the bush

Up shit's creek without a paddle

On cloud nine