"how-de-do"
The first edition of the OED lists three examples for the use of this word, all between 1835 and 1890, one of which is from The Mikado. Gilbert illustrates the meaning of the word by using it in parallel constructions:
Here's a how-de-do!
Here's a pretty mess!
Here's a state of things!
The variations on the word -- "How-do-you-do" or "how-d'ye-do" or "howdee do" -- meant "A 'business'; an embarrassing or awkward state of things" or state of affairs.
This discussion is based on the definition of the word how-de-do in the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, which requires a little explanation.
To Act I or Act II of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado.
To the homepage of this Mikado website.
Suggestions, contributions, criticisms, questions? Email Sharon Cogdill.
(c) Copyright 1998 Sharon Cogdill, dramaturg for this production and author of this website.
College of Fine Arts and Humanities
St. Cloud State University
This URL: http://web.stcloudstate.edu/scogdill/mikado/howdedo.html.
Last update: 19 May 1998.