how’s it hanging?, phr. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

how’s it hanging? phr.

also how (are) they coming? how (are) they hanging? how (are) you hanging? how’s she hanging? what’s hanging?

[it n.¹ (2); ‘they’ being the testicles, the popular answer to the pl. form is ‘One in front, for speed’]

a man-to-man greeting, what are you up to? how are you?

[1796		Sporting Mag. June VIII 151/1: A gentleman [...] well known as a humorous, eccentric genius, was one day met on the Greenwich road by a lady of his acquaintance, who accosted him with ‘Good morning, Mr. W.— how d’ye hold it?’ to which he laconically answered, ‘Sometimes in one hand, and sometimes in t’other,’—‘Ah, you naughty man,’ says she [...] ‘Lord, Ma’am,’ added he, ‘I only meant my walking stick.’].
1919		H.C. Witwer Smile A Minute 15: ‘Hello Ed!’ he sings out. ‘How are they comin’?’.
1928		J.M. March Set-Up 16: How they hangink, Herman? [HDAS].
1938		J. Weidman I Can Get It For You Wholesale 281: ‘Hello, Meyer,’ I said. ‘How are they hanging?’.
1963		A.E. Morgan Six-Eleven (1966) 217: ‘Hello, George,’ said Harvey. ‘How are they hanging.’.
1970		(con. 1950s) H. Junker ‘The Fifties’ in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 103: And the guys asked, how they hanging?
1974		(con. 1960s) R. Price Wanderers 36: Gennaro! How’s she hangin’?
1983		S. King Christine 273: ‘Hi, Arnie,’ he said. ‘How’s it hanging?’.
1987		Eble Campus Sl. Oct. 7: what’s hanging? – part of a greeting.
1988		D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 96: How you hanging?
1994		J. O’Connor Secret World of the Irish Male (1995) 220: ‘Howya, pal,’ he nods, ‘howya they hangin’?’.
1998		R.G. Barrett Mud Crab Boogie (2013) [ebook] How are they hanging? Long and loose and full of juice?
1999		Indep. on Sun. Real Life 22 Aug. 2: Hi! How’s it hanging?
2000		R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] ‘How are they hanging? Long and loose and full of juice?’.
2002		D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 133: David, um . . . how’s it hangin’?
2005		Mad mag. Mar. 31: Hey, Duke. How’s it hanging? Rocko.
2012		G. Pelecanos (con. 1972) What It Was 30: ‘How’s it hangin, Hound Dog?’ [...] ‘Long and strong’.
2012		(con. 1943) G.S. Manson Coorparoo Blues [ebook] ‘How are they hangin’, digger.’ ‘One each side of the seam, mate’.
2017		D. Winslow The Force [ebook] ‘Hey, Gerry Burger, how’s it hanging?’.
2022		in D. Andrew Aussie Sl.