3.1 When you ask how somebody is in general
How are you doing? Listen < – “I’m doing all right.”>
How are you today? Listen < – “Not too good. I’m still sick.”>
How’s the world been treating you? Listen < – “Outstanding! I couldn’t ask for more.”>
Are you doing OK? Listen < – “I have nothing to complain about.”>
Are you OK? Listen < – “I’m great.”>
How are you feeling? Listen < – “I’m fine.”>
How do you feel? Listen < – “Pretty good, thank you. What about you?”>
How’s my boy? Listen < – “I’m OK, dad.”>
3.2 When you ask how things are going
How’re things? Listen A “How are your circumstances?” < – “Things are getting tough. But I’ll survive.”>
How’re things going? Listen < – “Fine. How are things with you?”>
How’re things with you? Listen < – “Things are great!”>
How’s every little thing? Listen < – “Could be better.”>
How’s everything going? Listen < – “I’ve been keeping out of trouble. How about you?”>
How’re you getting on? Listen A “How are you managing?” < – “Wonderful! I couldn’t be better.”>
Is everything OK? Listen A “Are your circumstances OK?” < – “Everything is pretty good.”>
What have you been doing lately? Listen < – “Not too much. Just taking care of business.”>
What have you been up to? Listen < – “I’ve been up to no good. And you?”>
How’s life? Listen < – “Life is good. How’s yours?”>
How’s business? Listen < – “Business is OK.”>
How’s work? Listen < – “Just fine. And yours?”>
How’s the family? Listen < – “They are fine. How’s yours?”>
How’s the wife? Listen < – “She’s doing all right. And yours?”>
3.3 When you ask about recent developments
What’s new? Listen A “What are new developments in the situation?” < – “Not too much. Things are fine. What’s new with you?”>
What’s the news? Listen < – “Nothing.” – “Well, no news is good news.”>
What’s happening? Listen < – “Nothing important is going on around here.”>
What’s up? Listen < – “Nothing really.”>
What’s cooking? Listen A “What is happening?” < – “Nothing much. Everything is ordinary.”>
What’s the deal? Listen < – “We are working in the garden, that’s it.”>
What’s the scoop? Listen A “What’s the news?” <“Have you heard the latest about Kelly and Chris?” – “No. What’s the scoop?” – “They are getting married.”>
What’s going on around here? Listen < – “Not much.” – “Then what’s that racket?” – “Oh, our teenage son brought home a group of his friends. They are having fun.”>
Is anything going on? Listen A “Is there anything noticeable happening here?” < – “No. Business as usual.”>
What else is new? Listen A “What you have told me is not news, so tell me something really new.” <“Summer has come.” – “What else is new?”>
3.4 When you are healthy and doing well
I’m doing just fine. Listen A “My health is good and things are great.” <“How are you doing?” – “I’m doing just fine.” – “That’s great!”>
I’m doing fine. Listen <“How are you today?” – “I’m doing fine.”>
I’m just fine. Listen <“How are you?” – “I’m just fine.”>
I’m fine. Listen <“Are you OK?” – “I’m fine.”>
I’m doing OK. Listen A “My health is good and/or things are great.” <“How are you doing?” – “I’m doing OK, thanks.”>
I’m OK. Listen <“How are you?” – “I’m OK, thanks. What about you?”>
I’m doing well. Listen <“How are you doing?” – “I’m doing well.”>
I’m well. Listen <“How are you?” – “I’m well. How about you?”>
I’m good. Listen < “Are you doing better today?” – “I’m good.”>
I’m great. Listen <“How are you feeling?” – “I’m great.”>
Outstanding! Listen <“How’s life? – “Outstanding!”>
Wonderful! Listen <“How’s work?” – “ Wonderful!”>
Awesome! Listen <“How’s business?” – “Awesome!”>
Terrific! Listen <“How’s everything?” – “Terrific!”>
I can’t complain. Listen A “Everything is fine.” <“I hope everything is OK with your new job.” – “I can’t complain. The pay is good and the hours aren’t long.”>
I have nothing to complain about. Listen <“Are you happy with your life?” – “I have nothing to complain about. Life’s been good to me.”>
I couldn’t ask for more. Listen <“Are you doing OK?” – “I couldn’t ask for more.”>
I’ve been keeping out of trouble. Listen <“How have you been?” – “I’ve been keeping out of trouble.”>
I’ve never been better. Listen <“How are you?” – “I’ve never been better.”>
I couldn’t be better. Listen <“How do you feel?” – “I couldn’t be better.”>
Things couldn’t be better. Listen <“How’s everything going?” – “Things couldn’t be better.”>
Everything’s coming up roses. Listen A “Everything is splendid.” <“How’s every little thing?” – “Everything’s coming up roses. Life is great.”>
I’m sitting pretty. Listen A “The situation I am in continues to be favorable to me.” <“How are you doing financially?” – “I’m sitting pretty. I have a job and some savings. My income exceeds my expenses.”>
3.5 When you are generally doing well
Pretty good. Listen <“How’s life?” – “Pretty good.” – “I’m glad to hear that.”>
I’m getting by. Listen A “I am surviving but things could be better.” <“How is it going?” – “I’m getting by.”>
I’m just getting by. Listen <“How’s life?” – “I’m just getting by.”>
I’ve been getting by. Listen <“How have you been?” – “I’ve been getting by.”>
Could be worse. Listen A “My situation isn’t as bad as it might be.” <“How’s business?” – “Could be worse.”>
Things could be worse. Listen <“How’re things?” – “Things could be worse.”>
Same as always. Listen <“How’s work?” – “Same as always.”>
Same as usual. Listen <“How has it been?” – “Same as usual.”>
So-so. Listen A “I am doing satisfactorily, not too good, but not too bad either.” <“How has the world been treating you?” – “So-so.”>
Plugging along. Listen <“How are you today?” – “Plugging along. And you?”>
3.6 When you are not doing well
Not good. Listen <“How are you doing?” – “Not good. I got sick and they fired me.” – “Don’t worry. Things will get better.”>
Not so good. Listen <“How are you?” – “Not so good. I have health problems.”>
Not too good. Listen <“How are you feeling?” – “Not too good. I’ve got a headache.”>
Not well. Listen <“How are you today?” – “Not well. I have a cold.”>
Not so well. Listen <“How’re things with you?” – “Not so well. I have financial problems.”>
Not too well. Listen <“How has the world been treating you?” – “Not too well. I have problems at work.”>
Not great. Listen <“How do you feel?” – “Not great. I need a rest.”>
Not so great. Listen <“How have you been?” – “Not so great. Life is a struggle, you know.” – “Oh, don’t say it.”>
Could be better. Listen A “My situation isn’t as good as it might be.” <“How’s life?” – “Could be better. I’ve been unemployed for a few months.”>
Things could be better. Listen (used with could or might) <“How’re things?” – “Things could be better. It’s very hard to make money these days.”>
Things haven’t been easy. Listen <“How have you been? I heard you had lost your job.” – “Things haven’t been easy. But I have survived.”>
I’ve seen better days. Listen A “Things have been difficult recently. It was better in the past.” <“How’s your business?” – “I’ve seen better days. Activity is down.”>
I’ve had better days. Listen <“How’re you getting on?” – “I’ve had better days. One thing leads to another, you know.”>
3.7 When you have been busy
I’ve been busy. Listen <“How’s everything?” – “I’ve been busy.” – “That’s good.”>
I’ve been keeping busy. Listen <“How have you been?” – “I’ve been keeping busy.”>
I’ve been keeping myself busy. Listen <“What have you been doing?” – “I’ve been keeping myself busy.”>
Suhardi, Ph.D 