prettygoodyou?
I had this conversation with a supermarket checkout operator the other day. I explained that this question is dangerous because I will tell her the truth.
She asked again …
“How are you today?”
I replied
“ok considering the circumstances”
“what circumstances?”
at this point I gave her a soul searching I am in pain look and added
“do you really want to know?”
and she just said
“that’ll be $11.85, have a great day!”
then looked really guilty for saying that.
“I’m peachy”
drawn-out & sarcastic if it’s a bad day, perky if it’s good.
I don’t know where this expression came from, I just like it. Of course, it also means I’m fuzzy on the outside, sweet on the inside. Like a moldy Mento. Maybe I’ll start saying something else…
It really does depend on what I’m feeling at the time, and who is asking. My usual pat answer is “Just great, and you?” but for those who are close to me, or who really do want to know, sometimes I’ll say “Fair to partly cloudy” if it’s just an ok day, or “I’m here, still breathing” if it’s not.
If anyone were to ask me today, as tired and heartsore as I am, my answer would be:
“I exist, and tomorrow’s another day.” or:
“Loud thunderboomers today.”
Depends on who and the circumstances. Since it’s usually meant as a pretty meaningless greeting, my answer is usually, “fine, and you?”. Just relexive courtesy stuff.
If it’s slightly less formal, or a bit of light teasing okay then it might be “fair to middlin’” or some such. No big thing, just an opening to some casual chat if the person is inclined.
If the honest answer is “lousy, hideous, etc.” I never say so or imply it. The greeting, while mindless, is just meant as a courtesy.
Veb
When asked that question, I never lie. My standard answer is “I’m still breathin’”. Just how well I’m doing is apparent by my body language and tone of voice.
I am also somewhat amused (and somewhat annoyed) by the occasional goof who gets offended when confronted by such a nonstandard answer. “Sorry, bub. I wasn’t put here to conform to your expectations – now buzz off before I help you understand the full meaning of the word vexed.”
In my sociolinguistics class, we learned to distinguish constative speech events (actual questions and statements) from phatic speech events (ones that serve a social function but which have no content).
“How are you doing?” and its relatives are the latter.
My response to it is invariable - “Fine, thanks, and you?” - even in a hospital emergency room at midnight.