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Glite Dictionary
to how goes

to how goes

19 9.6
To ask how things are going, for example about work or a project
  • phrasal verb
  • Literature
translation icon : ¿Cómo va?
  • "And how goes the quest for ink?"
  • How goes the search
  • How goes your day
  • How goes life

But before team Surezay joins us, Adam, how goes you?

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Examples

  • "How goes it, Tony?" Smith asked as he joined him at the bar.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • - How goes it with the artillery today?

    Gods and Generals (2003)

  • - How goes the battle?

    Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

  • "Jack," he said, "how goes it?"

    Fiction book (2002)

  • So, how goes it, sir policeman?

    Fiction book (2002)

  • "How goes the war, Mistress?"

    Fiction book (1993)

  • How goes it with Earth?

    Fiction book (1992)

  • So, just about one month in, how goes progress on these resolutions?

    Blog text (27)

  • Mr. Sweeney, how goes it?

    Fiction book (1999)

  • In our meeting, I asked my colleague, "How goes the project update?"

Synonyms

what's new
vsto how goes
  • Informal
48 2.4

To ask what has happened recently in someone's life

focuses on overall progress or current state rather than new events
what's good
vsto how goes
  • Informal
38 9.1

A casual greeting asking how someone is or what's new

is more formal and asks generally about progress, not positivity
how goes it
vsto how goes
  • Archaic
2 8.5

To ask someone how they are when you meet them

is more formal and used to ask about progress or state
what's cooking
vsto how goes
  • Informal
1 8.8

A friendly question asking what is happening or being planned

is more formal and asks about general progress or state
how goes the battle
vsto how goes
  • Archaic
9.4

To ask someone how their work or task is going

is more formal or literary when asking about progress
how goes the enemy
vsto how goes
  • Informal
9.9

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

is more serious and literary when asking about progress
how are you diddling
vsto how goes
  • Archaic
9.9

A friendly informal greeting that asks how someone is doing

is more formal and asks about task progress or state
how's tricks
vsto how goes
  • Archaic
9.9

To ask someone in a friendly, casual way how they are

is more formal and asks about progress rather than personal well being
happenin'
vsto how goes
  • Slang
9.9

A casual greeting that asks what is going on

is literary or formal rather than slang and focuses on progress

How Formal

to how goes
  • Literature
19 9.6
what's up
  • Informal
554 7.2

Surface Forms

how goes infinitive
how goes present participle

Morphology

how + go

The meaning 'used to ask about the progress or state of something' is directly derivable from combining 'how' (in what way/degree) with 'goes' (proceeds/advances). The construction follows a transparent compositional pattern (compare Spanish '¿Cómo van tus estudios?') — although somewhat formal or literary, a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to infer the sense.

Etymology

How goes comes from an older way of speaking where goes meant 'moves along', like asking how a journey or task is moving down the road. That's why how goes is used today to ask about the 'progress' or 'current state' of something.