Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun how-do-you-do

2 senses of how-do-you-do

Sense 1
how-do-you-do, how-d'ye-do -- (an awkward situation; "that's a fine how-d'ye-do")
       => situation -- (a complex or critical or unusual difficulty; "the dangerous situation developed suddenly"; "that's quite a situation"; "no human situation is simple")

Sense 2
hello, hullo, hi, howdy, how-do-you-do -- (an expression of greeting; "every morning they exchanged polite hellos")
       => greeting, salutation -- ((usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting))