Awkward situation in greeting?
I believe the answer is:
how do you do
I believe this is a double definition.
'awkward situation' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'greeting?' is the second definition.
(how do you do is a kind of greeting)
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for how do you do that I've seen before include "Greeting - awkward situation" , "Polite enquiry after ones health?" , "Welcome" , "Hot water" , "difficult situation" .)