how

And how! (American & Australian)

something that you say in order to emphasize that you agree with what someone has just said. 'It was a great game last night.' 'And how!'

a bit of how's your father (British & Australian, humorous)

sexual activity. Apparently he came home and discovered them having a bit of how's your father in the kitchen.

See also: bit, father

find out/see how the land lies

to get information about a situation before making decisions or taking action. I thought I'd better call my mother and see how the land lies before inviting myself home for the weekend.

See also: find, land, lie, see

How do you like them apples!

1. something that you say when you want someone to know how clever or successful you are, especially when you have done something better than they have. You know that girl we were talking to last night - with the long blond hair? Well, I got her number. How do you like them apples!

2. something that you say to show you are surprised or disappointed by something that has happened. So Marilyn has moved to Florida? Well, how do you like them apples!

See also: apple, like, them

How long is a piece of string? (British & Australian)

something that you say when someone asks you a question that you cannot answer about how big something is or how much time something will take. 'So how long does a project like that take?' 'How long's a piece of string?'

See also: long, piece, string

How much do you want to bet? (informal, informal)

something that you say when you do not believe that what someone has just said will be true. 'I don't think she'd be stupid enough to lend him any money.' 'How much do you want to bet?'

See also: bet, much, want

how the other half lives

how people who are much richer than you live their lives. As the popularity of such magazines testify, people are always curious to see how the other half lives. 'They spend two or three months of the summer on a luxury yacht in the south of France.' 'How the other half lives!'

See also: half, other

---

and how

I agree very strongly. “That was a great game last night.” “And how!”

Usage notes: usually used as a separate sentence, as in the example

how about someone/something

I am surprised by someone or something. How about that guy who was arrested for riding his bicycle on the expressway?

Usage notes: usually intended to get someone to say what they think

See also: about

how about something/doing something

I suggest this. “What time should I pick you up?” “How about five o'clock?” How about going for a drink after work?

See also: about

how come

why do or why have. How come birds fly south in the winter? How come you got invited and I didn't?

Usage notes: usually used to introduce a question, but also used to react to a statement: “I haven't watched a football game all year.” “How come?”

See also: come

how dare you do something

I am very surprised and shocked by what you are doing. How dare you show up at my wedding?

Usage notes: usually shows that you think someone's behavior is very wrong: How dare he accuse us of lying!

See also: dare

how goes it

are you well. “Hey, Ted, how goes it?”

See also: goes

how so

please explain what you mean. “I thought her answers didn't make sense.” “How so?”

how the land lies

the way a situation has been arranged or has developed. After a few days on the job, I began to understand how the land lies and which people would be helpful.

See also: land, lie

how the other half lives

the kind of existence other people who have much more or much less money. A visit to this largely Hispanic neighborhood will give the senator an idea of how the other half lives. Well-educated social workers know all too well how the other half lives in desperately poor circumstances.

See also: half, other

how's that

1. why. “I'm glad I don't work in a store.” “How's that?” “Because I wouldn't want to have to deal with customers all day.” “If you were planning on looking at the place today, you may be disappointed.” “How's that?”

2. I do not understand. “What time do you close?” “How's that?”

See also: that

how's that for doing something

this is an excellent example of doing something. After losing his old business, he started a new one that has five movies in production right now – how's that for ending up OK?

See also: that

no matter how you slice

a matter of doing something

See also: matter, slice

no matter how you slice it

in whatever way you consider this. No matter how you slice it, graduate school is expensive.

See also: matter, slice