1. Said of a particularly bad, unpleasant, unfortunate, or unfair issue, outcome, or situation. ("How-de-do" is a colloquial abbreviation of the phrase "how-do-you-do.") Well that's a fine how-de-do. I just got the car washed and waxed, and now it's covered in bird poop. They're canceling our project? That's a fine how-de-do after devoting nearly a year of our lives to it.

2. Said of some rude or offensive remark someone makes to someone else. A: "This pasta sauce is way too salty!" B: "Well, that's a fine how-de-do—I invite you into my house for dinner, and you do is insult my cooking!" He just published a scathing report criticizing nearly every aspect of our company. That's a fine how-de-do from someone we spent 10 years mentoring.