What’s a good non-answer to give when asked ‘how are you?’. I don’t want to lie and say I am fine when I am not, and I don’t want to just dump whatever may be bothering me to every person that asks.
So, what to do? In my native language, it’s common to answer with ‘Praise be to God’, and that’s seen as a non-answer because there is no indication whether things are going well or poorly and instead we are just sidestepping the question entirely by ‘praising God’.
So, what would be an English equivalent?
16 comments
I’m well, how are you?
If you’re unwell it doesn’t matter, this is the most polite greeting because no one will ask you to explain yourself.
Things are so-so. Could be better. I’m ready for the weekend.
I like to be honest but also kind of vague with these types of responses. But I’ll immediately follow up by asking how are you to cast attention away from myself if I don’t want to get into the details
Living the dream
Nobody ever knows how to take that 😁
Alive. How are you?
I often respond with “it’s a <insert current week day here>!” with a facial expression to indicate whether it’s positive or negative though Sunday through Wednesday it’s already implied that it’s not the best day because it’s the beginning of/at before the work week and Thursday through Saturday implies it’s a good day because the weekend is near/here.
You can answer almost anything, noone will notice.
“I’m freezing, it’s so cold outside!”
“So busy with school right now!”
“Making pancakes, yummy!’
“Things are going, ya know? What about you?”
I just say “same as always”
I’m usually just stressed but trying to keep it together and people who know me well know that. Stranger don’t bother to ask more.
Around here the default is “Oh not so bad, and yourself?”
I’m here and semi-functional. How about you?
When people ask me how I’m doing I simply say: ‘surviving’ usually gets a chuckle and a ‘I hear that’
Meh
I’m here. How about you?
It’s a beautiful day! Is my go to. Takes the conversation towards something you both can agree on, and never feels like a lie.
“Oh, you know. How are you?”
I’m surviving. Hanging in there. Been better. Life is…. It’s one of those days/weeks/months. Are all polite, quick ways of dismissing the greeting without saying you’re doing well but not really inviting further discussion on the topic. If it’s really bad answer with something funny. “I’m building a time machine to go back and prevent my father and mother from meeting and dragging me into this mess. You?”