and how
250
8.6
- idiom
- Informal
:
y tanto
- That was an incredible performance, and how!
Examples
-
Fine, thanks, and how are you?
-
-And how do you feel about that?
-
- And how did she like it?
-
Sir, I just want to say how grateful I am for this job and how much it means to me and my family.
-
What is the situation, and how do you suggest the teacher should solve it at this point?
Academic text (2008) -
And how far would you go for the one that you love?
-
And how long have you been doing that?
-
And how is that possible?
-
And how about doing us all a little favor now... ...and singing "Over the Rainbow"?
-
Lithgow definitely knows how to tell a story and how to tell it well.
Academic text (2008)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To show agreement or acceptance at the start of a sentence
∞
1.0
To emphasize and agree that something is true
153
8.5
To say this to show you strongly agree with an obvious or unpleasant point
106
1.0
Say this to show agreement or acceptance
77
7.6
A strong way to agree with what someone says
54
8.5
Say this to show you strongly agree with something
53
7.7
A strong informal shout that shows agreement
52
4.2
Ask someone to repeat what they just said or agree strongly with a comment
29
7.0
In a way that shows strong agreement or certainty
15
9.9
To say yes very strongly, often in informal speech
13
6.8
To show you strongly agree with what someone said
9
9.9
Shows that you understand or agree with someone
8
7.7
To say the same thing as someone else to show agreement
To show strong agreement with an idea, often said by a group
Said to show strong agreement, like an excited yes
Shows strong agreement with something that is clearly true
An informal exclamation used to show agreement
How Strong
176
1.0
- Informal
250
8.6
- Informal
52
4.2
- Informal
1
9.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The particle 'how' commonly marks degree or strong feeling and 'and' links to the preceding statement, so a learner who knows both words can partly infer an emphatic sense — it functions to intensify and agree with what was just said. However, the fixed exclamatory use 'and how!' as a standalone emphatic agreement is idiomatic and its pragmatic force is not fully predictable from the parts alone, so learners may need exposure to learn its use.
Etymology
The idiom and how may come from people shortening a reply like 'and how true that is' into a quick exclamation. Imagine someone says a strong point and a friend quickly adds and how to show they completely agree, so today it means 'to strongly agree'.