<p>^^ And offer your hand. If you really want to impress, say “How do you do” rather than “Nice to meet you” or “Hi, how are you.” More formal.</p>
<p>ETA – When two people from two different spheres of my life run into each other, and I know they’ve met maybe once – like if DH and I are out shopping and we run into my co-worker – I try to say “Joe, you remember my co-worker Suzy.” I hope that it saves of them having to wrack their brains for a name, and gives them some context. It seems to reduce the awkward factor.</p>
<p>My husband and I just came to the conclusion that people in Sweden ( his home country ) do not introduce people who don’t know each other…cultural thing I guess.
When we visited there recently, it happened more than once to me. I find it awkward , but I am not shy so I just jumped in. Met our niece’s fianc</p>
<p>I believe this is dependent on the region and the social circles one happens to be a part of. </p>
<p>Saying “How do you do” or “Hi, how are you” would not only be too formal or telegraph “out-of-towner status” in most contexts IME, but also sound a bit out of place coming from a male except if he’s taking someone out on a date. </p>
<p>Granted, I’m a NYC native who grew up in an era when NYC wasn’t as gentrified and polite as it has been for the last 15-odd years.</p>