how

Examples

• All

• Do you know how it felt?

  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

• Did you ask the girl how much she gets paid?

  The Basement Yard

• So cool, but how much does it cost?

• People who have known me for years comment on how calm I am compared to before.

  Academic text (2011)

• But is this strategy good for all countries, and how far should it be taken?

  Academic text (2011)

• In the first example, it was clear how to start and how to proceed.

  Academic text (2011)

• For example, there are fundamental differences in how boys and girls see and hear.

  Academic text (2011)

• I cannot stress enough how uncommon this is.

• It depends on how well I'm feeling that day.

• It's surprising to see how much progress you've made in just a few weeks.

Idioms

N

no matter how

735 3.2

Something is true whatever way it happens

H

how old are you

164 1.0

To ask someone how old they are

H

how do you do

• Formal

101 6.1

A formal greeting used when meeting someone for the first time that does not need an answer

G

God knows how

• Informal

25 8.6

In a way that no one can explain

H

how so

17 5.1

To ask someone to explain how or why something is true

H

how goes it

• Archaic

11 8.5

To ask someone how they are when you meet them

H

how goes the battle

• Archaic

1 9.4

To ask someone how their work or task is going

A

and how

• Informal

1 8.6

Shows that you agree strongly with what someone says

H

how very dare you

• Informal

1 9.9

Show strong anger and disbelief at someone's words or actions

H

how do you like them apples

• Informal

1 9.9

People say it to boast about something they or someone else did

H

how the turntables

• Texting

1 9.9

A joking way to say roles have been switched

H

how long is a piece of string

• Informal

1 9.8

Say this when you cannot give a clear answer because it depends on things you do not know

A

any old how

• Informal

1 8.8

In a careless, messy way

H

how are you diddling

• Archaic

9.9

A friendly informal greeting that asks how someone is doing

H

how goes the enemy

• Informal

9.9

To ask how a situation is going, often as a joke about time passing

N

no matter how thin you slice it

• Informal

8.4

A fact stays true whatever way you look at it

T

teach grandma how to suck eggs

• Archaic

9.9

Give advice to someone who already knows more than you

Compounds

K

know-how

480 4.1

Practical skill and experience for doing technical tasks

H

how-do-you-do

• Archaic

1 9.3

An awkward or difficult situation that causes trouble

H

how-do-you-do

• Formal

1 8.2

A polite, formal greeting used when meeting someone for the first time

H

how-d'ye-do

• Archaic

9.9

An awkward problem that causes a fuss

Surface Forms

Etymology