How Are You

American Slang

Definition

A casual American greeting—mostly a polite opener for small talk rather than a genuine inquiry into well-being.

Examples

"Passing his coworker in the hallway, Jake tossed out, 'How are you?' without breaking stride."

"The cashier scanned my groceries and said, 'How are you today?' as she reached for the next item."

"I answered the phone and heard, 'Hey, how are you—anyway, I had a quick question about the meeting,' before they launched into details."