Green’s Dictionary of Slang

how’s the boy? phr.

also how’s the girl?

a phr. of greeting: how are you?

[US]T. McNamara Us Boys 15 Jan. [synd. cartoon strip] How’s the boy?
[UK]Wodehouse Damsel in Distress (1961) 20: Well, George, how’s the boy this bright afternoon?
[US]Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 34: Hullo Roger, how’s the boy?
[US]T. Wolfe Look Homeward, Angel (1930) 127: Colonel, how are you! [...] Captain, how’s the boy?
[US](con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 984: Hello, Glad, how’s the girl? [Ibid.] 965: How’s the boy, Charley?