to ask if anyone EVER says 'How do you do?' in this day and age?

[FestiveFruitloop]

Just curious as I've spotted a few people elsewhere on the web recently - all from outside the UK as far as I can tell - confidently asserting that in Britain we say 'How do you do?' when we meet a new person and that the correct response is to parrot 'How do you do?' back at them.

I'm in my mid-fifties and the words 'How do you do?' have never once crossed my lips (unless followed by something like 'long division' or 'without chocolate', that is.) I find it bemusing that people still think this is a British 'thing', but am I missing something (perhaps due to my class background)? Do people actually still say 'How do you do?' in some circles?

YABU = I've said it
YANBU = I've never said it

I always say this on meeting someone for the first time & this is usually at some casual child centred event/gathering.... I find it awkward that most people don't shake hands & the HDYD belongs with a handshake.

Scottish mid 40s middle class FWIW

I do. But I do think it's more common amongst men.

I have always thought this as a proper English thing, however I've never said it or haven't had it said to me. Which I never realised until now. It was in the finger song 'Peter pointer, Tommy thumb, how do you do! 😂

I say occasionally
Early 60s and yes context dependent

I say it upon meeting someone for the first time.

I remember someone saying it was better than "pleased to meet you" or whatever because actually, you don't know yet whether you are or not.

It's not actually a question and I would never answer it with "how do you do" - that would be ridiculous. It's a conversational lob, and if someone says it to you, you're supposed to lob back in an impersonal way, ie "bride or groom" or "weather we're having" or "what a lovely pomander" until you find an actual shared interest and can start talking properly.

I ask my dog this regularly in a very dramatic voice when we do paw 😂

I do. Especially if I’m meeting a new person professionally.

Yes, it's something I say at work sometimes.

I say it sometimes if I meet a new person through work.

Does he listen to the finger family song? Thats where my 2 year old got it from. Now she shakes everyone's hand and says it.

Yes, of course. It is the polite, formal form of greeting, when meeting someone for the first time.

Wow I'm surprised so many on this thread say it!

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say it in my entire life and I wouldn't have known that the correct response is to say 'how do you do'. I don't think I could bring myself to say it though, it's all a bit Mary Poppins

I say it when meeting someone for the first time.
“pleased to meet you” was always considered too Americanised, plus you wouldn't know if it was a pleasure to meet someone or not until you knew them better.
As a fairly antisocial old bat, I often greet people with a curt nod nowadays.

Always use it when I introduce myself to someone I haven’t met before
could also add a “ good morning or afternoon evening “ before it with my name
I met some new clients the other day to look at a project
knocked at door and stood with my back to the door until it was opened then turned round and said “ good morning I am Billy , how do you do “ and offered my hand for a handshake

seemed perfectly normal

Yes, I say it when meeting someone for the first time. And put hand out for a handshake which seems to be met with bemusement often, even by men. I don't think it's a germ/post-Covid thing, I think people have just lost their manners.

In my first job (city law firm) I was told that "pleased to meet you" is common!

These responses are such an eye-opener! I was convinced the vast majority of responses would be along the lines of 'Nah, it's archaic'. It's reminded me how informal my world is in general (wfh for a very small/informal company and haven't ever really worked anywhere formal or moved in particularly formal circles, in 50+ years of living). 😄

I've always hated hand-shaking, I really don't want to hold hands with a stranger! I don't like touching/hugging etc in general. It feels like they are asserting themselves over you because you are (socially) forced into agreeing to shake their hand because it's awkward if you don't.

Someone upthread said their grandfather kisses a woman's hand as a form of greeting - urghh!!

@Nandocushion "It's not actually a question and I would never answer it with "how do you do" - that would be ridiculous. "

Sadly-it's yet another one of those class indicators. The only "proper" response to "How do you do" is "How do you do"

Insane.

I'm really shocked at how many people use it. To me it's an aristo/UC thing and not something you'd use in the workplace unless dealing with aristos/UC.
The Middletons were nicknamed "Nice to meet you Middletons" as they weren't PLU to William's circle and were seen as a bit common.

I've never said it
I'm from a typical northern working class background and mainly say, 'hiya, yaw right?'
Some people here say 'ow do?' Which obviously derives from it.

'How do you do?' is the correct form of addressing someone you are introduced to or to an acquintance you meet out of the home.
The correct response is 'How do you do?'

But few know proper the etiquette these days, and thus will argue that "language evolves" or "only posh people speak like that" or, "you are just being a snob/any other derogatory expression".

Nah, you just say How do you do back, and THEN start talking about the weather