"Hummel, Hummels ..."

Herr Hrdlicka, Sonntag, 23. März 2014, 08:57 @ Herb 96

Hallo, lieber Herb, how's tricks?

To me How's tricks? is how one greets a prostitute ...

Unfortunately, "Service Temporarily Unavailable" So ...

You see, I prefer British English.

Other authors suggest:

(1) How's Tricks
A common greeting in UK English having a similar meaning to 'How are You'
"Hi Dave, not seen you for a while, how's tricks?"

"Not too bad, thanks. I've been staying with a mate from out of town.
How's tricks with you?"

(2) How's Tricks
A phrase of greeting expressing love and affection
Hello Elise. Hows Tricks?

(3) How's tricks?
As others have stated, an informal greeting meaning "Hello, how are you?”. But the true spelling should be Trix (with a capital T) because of its origin, which no one seems to know: It was (still) an informal greeting, started in the early 20th century; but the entire phrase was "How are Trixie and the kids?"... basically asking how one's family was doing. Trixie was short for Beatrix, or Beatrice (a popular female name of the era) and came to be known as slang for "the wife". Over time the phrase was shortened to simply
"How's Trix?"

"Hey Rob, long time no see. How's tricks?" ... "Doing well Joe, thanks."
(Incorrectly spelled there on purpose to satisfy UD - use Trix)
von DK1973 2. Juli 2013

(4) How's tricks
Question one used to ask to hookers who "turn tricks." It means how are things? Or how is business?
Now it is used in the UK for an alternative "how's things?" without any attachment to the old meaning.
Two friends passing:

"How's tricks?"
"Good thanks, you?"
"Busy as always"
von Dorjan 22. August 2011

read more: urban dictionary

Jack Bruce

How’s Tricks?

The white hand in the darkened house
Rings a bell that makes the guests drop
their cases in fright
A face that seems to laugh alone
Sits in the flames that warm
the frozen stretches of night
The skeleton that smokes
His head half guillotined
Sits there telling jokes
About places he has cleaned

How's tricks? How's tricks?
What kicks! It sticks.
Loud ticks . . .

By the way, how's tricks with Hanover 96?
Hangover?