that's a fine how-do-you-do

that's a fine how-do-you-do

1. Said of a particularly bad, unpleasant, unfortunate, or unfair issue, outcome, or situation. Well that's a fine how-do-you-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-do-you-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-do-you-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-do-you-do from someone we spent 10 years mentoring.
See also: fine
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

That's a fine how-do-you-do.

Inf. That is a terrible situation. Well, that's a fine how-do-you-do! I tried to call Mary, and her number is disconnected! That's a fine how-do-you-do. I come home and find the kids are playing catch with my best crystal bowl.
See also: fine
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a sad state (of affairs)
  • a sorry state (of affairs)
  • come to a bad end
  • come to a bad/sticky end
  • hit a sour note
  • horse and rabbit stew
  • be a fate worse than death
  • breathe a sigh of relief
  • heave a sigh of relief
  • a rough passage
References in periodicals archive
"Well, that's a fine how-do-you-do," he grumbled as he showed me the boldfaced "Guidelines for Receiving Communion" that spelled out the letter of the (canon) law: "It is a consequence of the sad divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend to [non-Catholic Christians] a general invitation to receive Communion....