how goes it en · X
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
The phrase is a regular Early Modern English equivalent of how's it going (when neither progressive tenses nor do-support were obligatory). As such it could have survived through regional dialects. Nevertheless modern usage is likely a calque of German wie geht es, perhaps additionally also Dutch hoe gaat het, Danish hvordan går det, etc.
Meanings
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(idiomatic) An informal greeting roughly equivalent to how are you.
‘Scotty, man, how goes it?’ Bennie said, patting me warmly on the back as we shook hands.
2010, Jennifer Egan, “X's and O's”, in A Visit from the Goon Squad:Here comes the Lady Paulina's Steward: hee can deliuer you more. How goes it now (Sir.)
c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 300, column 2: