is it okay to ask how are you? in return when someone ask's how are you?.and not reply to their question.
2007-12-29 22:01:09 · 18 answers · asked by Victoria Emmanuel 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Is this british or american usage?
2007-12-29 22:13:17 · update #1
Friend,
It is very natural and good etiquette to ask any one whom you meet ''How are you?''
If that person is not neither well nor quite say unwell, neither poor nor rich , and just dragging life Hand to mouth he normally replies'' so so''.
Other wise his reply will be affirmatively either positive '' I am excellent, how do you do ?'' or I am rather unwell and taking treatment, thanks for asking, how do you do?''.
So that is what I understand when some one replies ''so so '' to how are you?question.
2007-12-29 22:11:17 · answer #1 · answered by Radhakrishna( prrkrishna) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So So is an expression indicating any number of things. Basically the accepted meaning is that you feel neither very goo or very bad. It can apply to your health, emotional situation or finances.
When a person asks you a question it is a matter of courtesy to reply. People ask questions like this as an entry to a larger conversation.
Consider how you would feel if you asked a question and did not get an answer?
2007-12-29 22:07:43 · answer #2 · answered by organbuilder272 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that I'm not good at all but I know I can't really say that. It means I'd like you to come and talk to me later and really ask if I'm ok so I can talk to you not just ask 'how are you?' as a way of saying hello. It means I need a friend but I'm finding it hard to open up and I need you to make the next move. It means don't ignore it.
2007-12-29 23:36:15 · answer #3 · answered by roisindu2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What or which is your main question?
The examples given are standard script questions and answers to greet people in a friendly manner.
So so means OK, not good, not bad. The person might be thinking of a worrying situation.
2007-12-29 22:07:04 · answer #4 · answered by timberline06450 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That you're not okay and you're not exactly feeling bad either.
you're feeling okay not the best you could feel at that moment but not necessarily the worst either.
Yes it's okay to ask someone how they are. In turn when they ask you can reply any way you'd like.
I hope I'm making sense.
2007-12-29 22:04:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well so so can mean 3 things.
1. some things are good and some are bad
2. you really dont know.
3. things could be better.
so answering like that is a way of answering the question without actually answering the question.
2007-12-29 22:05:26 · answer #6 · answered by Neva 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So-So means that your Okay but could be better. Kinda like being caught in the middle of good and bad.
2007-12-29 22:05:10 · answer #7 · answered by EvilFairy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I reply 'so-so' what I really want to say instead would be 'actually i feel very cheesed off but I'm trying to be polite to you and not p**s on your bonfire'.
2007-12-29 22:04:49 · answer #8 · answered by J J 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So-so means not very bad but not very good either. As a native speaker, if someone answered "so-so" to my question 'how are you?' I would think they felt slightly unwell, or possibly tired or upset.
It would sound a bit odd to answer 'How are you?' with 'How are you?', a normal response would be 'I'm fine thanks, how are you?', or 'I'm fine thanks, and you?'
2007-12-29 22:07:27 · answer #9 · answered by Trish D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well you just say ..Im fine....dont go on about ..how you really feel...they might be there all day...so so...means they arent good and arnt bad....they want to tell you the bad bit...just say...thats great !!....or you will be there all day...lol
2007-12-29 22:05:16 · answer #10 · answered by Wee Hen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋