how-de-do

It was all so friendly and delightful; and she did long to ask him to come back with her to lunch at their hotel so that she could get out his scarf and say: “I have a little surprise for you, dear Mr. Septimus,” and clasp it round his neck; but she felt it would make a ‘how-de-do’!

On Forsyte 'Change 2004

Dining nibs, much grub, happy boozing like hell, tip-top society, how-de-do so pleased to meet you, hey?

Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

"Now look a 'here, Lizzie, I ain't got no other girl, an' it's a pretty how-de-do if I can't have my only daughter married from my own house."

The Wind Before the Dawn Dell H. Munger

Yes -- how-de-do, Miss Culpepper? excuse me a minute, Ruth, while I hate that girl.

The Love Affairs of an Old Maid Lilian Bell

I say, I apologise for not saying how-de-do but things have been moving today.

Men of Affairs Roland Pertwee

So he waited till one or two greeted him with a shake of the hand, and a "how-de-do, Campbell?" two or three more with a cold "hallo, Campbell!" and the rest with only a stare.

Wilton School or, Harry Campbell's Revenge Fred E. Weatherly

She had not seen the teacher more than to say "how-de-do" since their rather warm discussion before the date of the town meeting.

Janice Day at Poketown Helen Beecher Long

Pocketing his bank-book, he gave her a sharp nod, a colorless "how-de-do, Miss Rose," and a tip of the hat that might have been a little less stiff had he been more accustomed to greeting the ladies.

Dust 1921

And there, after resting a while, it was pumped up by the sun and made into a cloud, and the wind blew it back over the land and to their field again, where it fell into the brook and said, "Why, how-de-do, Sylvia -- you still here?"

The Bent Twig Dorothy Canfield Fisher 1918

"Well, here's a pretty how-de-do!" said Stonor with grim humour.

The Woman from Outside [on Swan River] Hulbert Footner 1911