Etymology Journal · H

How're the roads?

Meaning

A concern-driven question meant to check if conditions for driving are safe. It is frequently used during bad weather or before a long trip.

Concerned, cautious

Before he left for work, she asked him, how're the roads?
I need to drive to the city, so I called my brother to ask, how're the roads?
The snow was coming down hard, and they were worried, so they asked their friends, how're the roads?

Short for how are the roads. This is a practical linguistic survival tool for people living in rural areas or places with heavy winter precipitation.

Midwest

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