What British phrases do foreigners often take too literally?
Posted by No_Mind1449@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 610 comments
One thing I find funny about British English is that people often say things in a more understated or indirect way than in other countries.
For example“not bad" might actually mean something is pretty good, and "a bit annoying" might mean something is seriously frustrating.
What are some British phrases or habits that foreigners tend to take too literally?
Upbeat_Branch_4231@reddit
"Welcome to England"
Outrageous-Brush-677@reddit
"How are you"
showquotedtext@reddit
When I moved to Australia I'd say "Alright" as a greeting, as normal, but this farmer guy I worked for was like, "Whaddaya mean am I alroight? Do I not look alroight?"
EchoMaterial5506@reddit
If something is 'quite good' this confusingly means actually not that great. Quite should be an intensifier so if something is 'quite good' then it should be better than just good.
Opening_Succotash_95@reddit
That has become a difference between American and UK English. Americans use it as an intensifier as you say, but in British English it means 'average' more or less.
Smittumi@reddit
Depends on the emphasis. In the UK 'quite good' can mean better than expected of you say it in a way that makes it sound like you were surprised.
highrouleur@reddit
Normally following actually. "it was actually alright/quite good" - It exceeded my expectactions by several levels
Visible-Pomelo7748@reddit
The tone of the word quite is key. Quite can mean anything from a little bit to extremely depending on context. It's quite confusing actually.
Terrible_Spot_3454@reddit
It's actually quite good, for something that's surprisingly okay
McKendrigo@reddit
I'd take "quite good" to mean "a bit better than average" and but definitely not "very good".
The_Dark_Vampire@reddit
It does mean it wasn't awful either but just acceptable
Southern_Passage_332@reddit
"How are you?"
Response from Eastern Europeans, "Are you a doctor?!"
evelynsmee@reddit
"it's not ideal" - used for nightmare catastrophes, not mild inconvenience, sounds like mild inconvenience.
Other than antipodeans as they do the same, "yeah nah" / "nah yeah" is a good one.
"Maybe" - no
"I'll think about it" - no
"We should do that again" - no
"That wasn't bad" - it was good
Smittumi@reddit
"Yeah nah" and "Nah yeah" are absolute favourites.
How do we explain that it's only the last word that counts, and the other word is there for balance?
catsita@reddit
We do the same in Spanish
Kindly_Difference_99@reddit
Other countries have this one as well so this one isn’t so confusing but I see why we’d think it’s classic British
The_Quackening@reddit
Its the exact same in canada.
Vehlin@reddit
It’s a bit like Welsh. Would you like a cup of tea yes no?
evelynsmee@reddit
I'm doing it now in a minute
Constant-Map7687@reddit
Thats also very irish . It's one of the irish phrases I've confused American people with 😃
Nipso@reddit
Similar construction in Mandarin.
You want not want tea?
rosegoldqueen28@reddit
"We'll see." - No
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
When you're a child and you seem to learn very early on, that when mum says "maybe" or "I'll think about it" that it means straight up no... It's a heartbreaking lesson 😂
evelynsmee@reddit
"could do" - no
"We'll see" - no
😂
wilsonthehuman@reddit
Made a doctor in A&E laugh once when he came in and asked how I was doing and my answer was 'well, I've been better' and then again when he came back to tell me I had kidney stones and my response was 'well that's a bit inconvenient.'
No-Dinner-3715@reddit
Leave it with me - and I intend to nothing about it
scottgal2@reddit
As half your foot is hanging off - 'oh no, I'm fine'. Can mean anything from the best you've ever flet to on the verge of death.
evelynsmee@reddit
Literally me a couple weeks ago. Big crash skiing (I won "gnarliest crash of the week" in the group haha), big drop straight to face, bloody nose, complete yard sale. Much to the confusion of the French, me: "little a bit of a bonk that" still checking limb function "oh look, blood!"
hazps@reddit
Whereas "It's an absolute disaster" generally means "I am mildly inconvenienced and irritated by this".
gerrineer@reddit
Y raight me duck?
Houdini23@reddit
Tbh most Brits not from certain parts of the east & west Midlands get baffled by a "y'alrate duck". My southern mates were baffled when I kept saying it
gerrineer@reddit
I live in bristol now but still say it ..and they get it as they have cheers drive! And stick an L on everything.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
cheers drive?? What's that 👀
highrouleur@reddit
When you get off a bus and thank the driver
Vehlin@reddit
Bristol is proper weird. “You right me lover?” Not sure if that is a question a statement or a request
illarionds@reddit
It's a greeting.
Vehlin@reddit
(that was the joke)
1giantsleep4mankind@reddit
I have no ideal why they do this
bunkyboy91@reddit
I have spent a lot of time with family in Cornwall and a lot of people down there will still say "my love" or "my lovely " to literally anyone they're talking to. Cashier, bus driver, police man... Doesn't matter. "How's you my lovely?" When I head back home I have to try really hard not to slip into it because you get some seriously funny looks.
Sharks_and_Bones@reddit
I lived in Penzance for a while and was very confused when an older man came in to where I worked and said "all right my lover" in a thick cornish accent. I moved away nearly 4yrs ago and miss the general friendliness I experienced in Cornwall.
bunkyboy91@reddit
My lover! A classic!
Once you get it's just a warm hello it becomes so comforting to hear "you alright mi luv er"
SilverellaUK@reddit
Prime Weston super Mare.
spudlet89@reddit
Ayup duck! Am alreet ta, you?
gerrineer@reddit
Im reet.
cutluv@reddit
"Okay" or variations "are you you okay" as a greeting seems to flummox some people.
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
I used to greet my sister when seeing her with 'you alright' and she'd get so mad at me. She'd be like STOP ASKING ME IF I'M OKAY. For context I've been living in England for 15 years and she still lives back home in Greece
queen_naga@reddit
I’m British and I have adhd so it’s a nightmare as I genuinely answer and the other person looks startled that I’ve told them something
Mental_Scallion7681@reddit
What does ADHD have to with it?
TJTheree@reddit
Literally nothing. People just blame neurodiversity on absolutely everything. I have tons of autistic friends and my girlfriend has ADHD etc and literally this makes no fucking sense as a “because I have ADHD” moment lmao.
ShrinkToasted@reddit
It's basically the new astrology
Feisty-Lifeguard-550@reddit
It makes total sense and just cause your girlfriend has ADHD it’s not the same for everyone and you’re claiming to know or understand what a person with autism and adhd is experiencing
queen_naga@reddit
It actually does make sense as I take are you alright literally. Educate yourself
queen_naga@reddit
Sorry it autocorrected, i have auADHD which means im overstimulated and talkative but also struggle with social conventions and interactions, im like an untrained puppy. Too over excited if someone says you alright but also if they don’t ask me and just nod or say hi, I don’t respond as there’s no question. To make it clearer, I live in a small village where everyone knows each other and it’s a social norm to acknowledge each other. if I’m in London where I work, there is no issue at all… nobody talks to each other unless needed.
Hope that clears up where the auADHD can kick In an environment where you might not see someone on a dog walk for ten minutes in the woods then suddenly some familiar says you’re alright..
il0vOxy@reddit
I was wondering the same thing before you said about the autocorrect, but then I’m autistic myself and have long believed that ADHD and autism are actually one disorder with multiple presentations so I figured it actually made perfect sense that you might have social difficulties!
re_Claire@reddit
Also AuDHD and also agree that they're two sides of the same coin. I suspect at some point psychology might agree with us.
gillyc1967@reddit
I have ADHD but I suspect it might actually be AuDHD and I totally agree, there's so much overlap I'm sure it's just different presentations of one underlying issue.
a_long_slow_goodbye@reddit
Sorry which traits? I'm diagnosed Asperger's (ASD/Autism) and i don't have anything in common with the condition ADHD. People with ADHD don't have issues with social pragmatics, executive dysfunction presents entirely differently, sensory issues are also different, Autistic individuals have bottom up thinking... i don't have impulse control issues like people with ADHD do.
We know how ADHD works we don't know how Autism works. ADHD is to do with the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala which are directly connected, you can see the difference between a 'control' and an ADHD individual in neuroimaging. That's exactly where impulse control issues come from and executive dysfunction symptoms in individuals with ADHD (executive functioning is handled by the pre frontal cortex).
Honestly this kind of thing often feels like erasure to me and it impacts ones ability to self advocate. It's the same as people lumping conditions under "neurodiversity" not understanding all brains are neurodiverse because people are individuals (you can even lay on an average overall but still deviate in one or more areas). Neurodivergent just means you don't lie on the average when it comes to brain structure. It tells you nothing about specific distinct conditions or the individuals with those conditions.
You can definitely have both but i wouldn't say it was extremely common. Autism is aft accompanied with associated conditions/comorbidities. Autism and ADHD tend to exacerbate each 'other', not always but often.
Emergency_Stick3963@reddit
All of it is really interesting tbf. If you throw in BPD there's a whole extra overlap of things.
I've previously been asked if I had Aspergers by medical staff, diagnosed BPD at 21 and ADHD at 30. Recently had an autism assessment and was told I have traits 🤷♀️
MesoamericanMorrigan@reddit
I’m AuDHD and actually think they’re very very different... My autistic traits are distinct from my ADHD traits, clash, cause a lot of internal conflict and I have never fully gelled with solely ADHD or solely Autistic people
a_long_slow_goodbye@reddit
Autism and ADHD tend to exacerbate each 'other' and like you say conflict, not always but often. Impulse control can clash with environmental control and routine in ASD or having issues with being easily distracted (or too focused that you ignore other things) but having difficulties with sudden changes.
I agree they are not the same thing though, they are distinct. I don't have any ADHD symptoms and i was diagnosed as a teen with Asperger's (would be ASD if now). WE already know how ADHD works but we don't really for Autism. See my other few posts in the chain if you like, i don't want to triple reply the same things.
MrsBadgeress@reddit
They are, they just waiting for the go ahead to do so formally.
a_long_slow_goodbye@reddit
Who told you that? Autism and ADHD are very different.
LeTreacs2@reddit
I’ve just got an adult ADHD diagnosis and my therapist told me that one spectrum is the modern way of thinking about it
a_long_slow_goodbye@reddit
Don't agree with that, Autism isn't a spectrum itself (that's a misnomer). It's not linear like a spectrum. One person with Autism can present quite differently to another despite having the same overall issues and criteria. One person can need more support in one area while someone else will not.
LeTreacs2@reddit
I didn’t mean to offend, I paraphrased something my psychiatrist said to me, I wasn’t aiming for medical accuracy when I used the word “spectrum”.
Yeah, I do know about the DSM and WHO ICD.
I’m not qualified to argue about this so I’m really not going to!
Hard_Dave@reddit
I'll bear that in mind
Caddy666@reddit
yeah, me too, and sometimes i do it just to watch their face drop.
madformattsmith@reddit
you should totally head over to r/ADHDUK and say hello, sometime :)
^(slightly biased as I am a mod there)
seeyouyoucunt@reddit
Have you ever been as far as do want more?
queen_naga@reddit
Exaggerated yawn.
seeyouyoucunt@reddit
Your training is complete now sit down and shaddap
queen_naga@reddit
Have you ever the joke “when you were born the nurse took one look at you and slapped your mother”? It applies to you and you’re an embarrassment for having a glorious username and using it to troll people on a keyboard.
If you have anything valuable to add, type it out and use your words.
If you just oppose anything that you don’t understand then there are plenty of places I’ll recommend for your tiny little mind. No offence to trolls.
paulmclaughlin@reddit
You know that bit where you say you miss social cues?
You've really done that and gone off the deep end here
seeyouyoucunt@reddit
Blame it on my autism and adhd
queen_naga@reddit
Thank you for confirming how uneducated, bored and angry you are at the world. The world keeps spinning and it’s not gong to stop for you because you think you’re funny for laughing at neurodivergence on a forum. I feel sorry for you and what’s funny is that you won’t understand that is the most devastating insult especially considering I have auADHD and funnily enough have a more in depth knowledge about it through medical professionals.
I’m sure you’ll come back with a five word comment again that you think is witty or funny but I won’t be reading it as you’re clearly a brick wall.
Eh-Beh@reddit
ADHD and Autism (more so) can cause a person to take things quite literally.
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
When I first moved here I would give full blown answers every time. I would get the same looks you'd probably get and everyone would just be so confused. Tbh I still do it sometimes hahahah I won't go into full detail but I'm not just gonna be like 'yeah mate you?'.
brumav78@reddit
It's less of a thing here, but amongst the upper classes people would greet each other with "How do you do?" and the expected response would be "How do you do?"
-You_Cant_Stop_Me-@reddit
I sometimes say " 'ow do?"
meltymcface@reddit
Found the yorkshireman
-You_Cant_Stop_Me-@reddit
I'm from Manchester, just lived in Sheffield for a while. Haha.
meltymcface@reddit
I was so close to second guessing myself as to whether it was a Lancashire phrase or not. I live near the border between the two but I’m not native so get mixed up sometimes 😬
PiesPiesAndPies@reddit
Both.
meltymcface@reddit
Aaaah, I am learning. Thanks PiesPiesAndPies…. Wigan?
-You_Cant_Stop_Me-@reddit
I think it is more of a Yorkshire thing, but as my grandpa and dad used it a lot I always have, even though I was raised t'other side o' Pennines.
PiesPiesAndPies@reddit
Or Lancastrian.
Walking in the hills with my son, he complained that I was saying "'Ow do" to all the strangers we passed. "What does that even mean?*
Next person approached and I kept my trap shut - and as they passed us they said "Ow do" 😂
Awkward_Aioli_124@reddit
I say howdy doody
fartingbeagle@reddit
Ay oop?
SmokeDraw742@reddit
It feels like that relates somehow to "Como está usted?" and "Como estás?"
queen_naga@reddit
I’m 39 and have only ever lived in England refuse to back down with the honest answer. It’s such a stupid colloquialism to ask a question with no wish of an answer. Funnily enough, I saw an interview with Greg Davies yesterday and he said as he’s in his 50a, he’s decided to be honest when a stranger asks if he’s ok. He was asked in a New York hotel and he was like no I feel awful 😂😂😂
Albert_Herring@reddit
If he's in an amicable mood, my landlord's normal response to "Alright?" as a greeting is "What ya going to do if I'm not, ya cunt?"
He is, like they say, a character (and, I think, well along a spectrum or two himself).
Fred776@reddit
It's not an exclusively English thing to do. The only thing that varies is the specific question.
Americans will ask "how's it going?" or "what's up?" without expecting a proper answer. The latter sounds particularly odd to my British ears because for most of my life it was something that you would ask only if you genuinely thought there was a problem.
It's not just the English language either. French for example has "ça va?", which is a similar sort of question. And I read recently that Chinese people will ask "have you eaten?" as a greeting, without any intention of feeding you.
BodySurfersRus@reddit
In NZ "how's it going" (or in Italy "comme va?") are common greetings also and some English people I have said it to have reacted as though I am trying to wind them up and/or pedanticly asked me to explain what "it" is.
MzHmmz@reddit
"How's it going?" is not in any way a weird greeting, I'm 99% sure I've heard British people say that! Sounds like you just met some pedantic twats, or else they were jokingly trying to wind you up.
Constant-Map7687@reddit
I think you've met an irish american person . I'm Orish myself. Never heard the term how's it going used outside ireland !
Fred776@reddit
Maybe it's "how are you doing" or "how's things" then. The point is that it doesn't really matter what the question is. No one is interested in the answer.
RoyofBungay@reddit
Have you eaten in China comes from a time when a good day was a good day because you had eaten. In other words eaten well means you are well.
Captain_Stable@reddit
"You'll have had yer tea!" - a popular saying in Scotland, apparently. Popularised by Graeme Gardener and Barry Carter, with Hamish and Dougal.
mccalli@reddit
Graeme Garden and Barry Cryer.
Fred776@reddit
Yes! Exactly what came to mind when I heard about the Chinese phrase!
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
It is! And it's like the older you get I feel it's a good way to make friends hahaha. Just be honest with people like what's the big deal. You're obviously not going to give them your whole life story but don't just be like yeh you. Also, love Greg Davies hahahah I adore him in Taskmaster
queen_naga@reddit
Yes I had a great chat with someone earlier about the changes in our village because I was honest and people are just so repressed here that they don’t speak their minds. If you’re a huge taskmaster fan I genuinely have 1 spare ticket for s22 recording in a few weeks before I advertise it
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
STOP IT. WHEN IS THE RECORDING THOUGH. Cos I'm currently back in Greece and coming to the UK early June.
Yeah I feel like it's maybe in bigger cities where people just fob it off and don't care for an honest answer? I dunno maybe I'm wrong, but I will always just keep giving people honest answers to that question.
queen_naga@reddit
It’s in may I’m afraid but if you message me we can try and coordinate tickets for s23 in September. I’ve got tickets for the first time for two shows by buying extras and coordinating with fellow fans after never getting them.
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
I've just messaged you!
No_Librarian_9367@reddit
^^^ May this be the start of a beautiful friendship! 😇
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
This 😭as someone with social anxiety planning my next question too (which was most likely how are you 😆), it’s jarring when you get cut off with a recap of their weekend 🤣 like, we didn’t get to that part yet pal, you’ve skipped a step!! :P
coconutsand@reddit
I don't understand how one is supposed to answer. I usually just say, "yes, all good." Is that not an appropriate response?
What is the right way of answering this question
banananey@reddit
I really hate it as well. Don't have ADHD but if someone says 'you alright?' instinctively want to reply "not bad thanks and you?" which really confuses people.
MzHmmz@reddit
How are people confused by that answer?! It seems like a perfectly reasonable one to me, it's not like you're launching into a detailed description of how you're doing, it's giving a short fairly non committal answer that continues the simple back and forth flow. They can just reply "yeah, alright" or whatever, and carry on.
awesomepanda9379@reddit
You people really can’t do anything
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
Excellent discrimination, 10/10. Glad it’s still okay to discriminate against the disabled.
Wild_Wolverine9526@reddit
Is it not normal to reply “yeah, you?” Or something along those lines? I always reply 😂
OkTadpole2920@reddit
I responded to a courier at my front door, " No, actually I'm not but I appreciate you asking, thank you." 😆😆😆
slotbadger@reddit
If you need to answer the question literally then it's "not bad, you?"
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
This made me giggle because I have autism and adhd and im the person stood looking startled 🤣
queen_naga@reddit
I get that too totally. I’m just full of beans and overshare and i struggle to stop even when I can tell the other person isn’t comfortable, it’s so annoying and anxiety inducing for everyone involved but just a nod and hi should suffice
EasyCheesecake1@reddit
Yes! I am admittedly pedantic and waiting for an autism test and my reaction is to want to give an honest answer.
queen_naga@reddit
AuADHD here and yes but I still think asking someone if they’re Ok and walking off is so bizarre
oehoe21@reddit
That’s first thing I lost when I moved to the Netherlands.
SinsOfTheAether@reddit
First city I moved to in UK was Aberdeen. Common greeting there was "Foos yer doos". Literally, how are your pigeons?
Moving to "You allright?" after that was just fine by comparison
Bailliestonbear@reddit
When they heard your accent did they say "Furryboots ye fae" ??
SinsOfTheAether@reddit
LOL. I'm getting flashbacks now
Slippery_Williams@reddit
That sounds kind a Skyrim shout
earthandanarchy@reddit
I'm British and when someone says alright to me I usually say yeah you? Or yeah you alright? And no body has looked at me strangely for answering. I know you are 'supposed to' just say alright back but ugh I don't like speaking that way lol
Quickswitch79@reddit
When I first moved to Dublin, everyone says "How are you keeping?" or "Are you winning?". Took me a while to realise it's the same as us saying "You alright, mate?" 😂
HillyPoya@reddit
Brit here, I reserve "yer winnin'?" for the most dejected and defeated looking of my colleagues.
thisnextchapter@reddit
Are you winning son meme
Constant-Map7687@reddit
I'm a Dubliner myself. How are ya ? Is very common. So is how's it going ?
hebejebez@reddit
Australia it’s how’s it going alright made me feel quite at home, similar enough from our alright business and no one expects you to actually explain how it is going.
NuclearMaterial@reddit
I like "how's she cutting?"
Pizzagoessplat@reddit
I got reported to HR for this!
I had to sit in a pointless meeting with the other person explaining the cultural differences.
From now on I have to say it as "can I help you?"
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
Wait, care to elaborate hahahah You got reported to HR for giving the honest answer or because the other person was getting annoyed you were asking 'you alright?'?
Pizzagoessplat@reddit
The other person was getting annoyed with me because she thought I was asking exactly. I work in a busy hotel and kept seeing her being over loaded with work in the bar and restaurant. Now I just let her struggle.
I even told the general manager that its against my nature not to ask and I have to ignore her to keep the peace. She also got annoyed with me asking "how are you" because she literally thought that's what I meant and its too personal.
If she's like that with me I dead to think what she thinks of American customers, that want to know the entire biography of your life and become your new best buddy, when we just want to serve tables.
Kaiserlongbone@reddit
Maybe she's reading the question as "Are you able to cope?" And she thinks you might be questioning her ability? I suppose it depends on how you ask the question?
il0vOxy@reddit
That’s very odd, to think “how are you” is too personal. I can understand being annoyed if someone asks it and you answer honestly and they just walk off making it clear they didn’t mean the question literally, but not the other way round! I’d be happy someone cared. Sounds like that’s a her problem.
CommunicationWide208@reddit
No, that's a cultural difference.
Careless-Cow3222@reddit
I hate the disingenuous nature of “alright?” As a greeting. It’s a question, akin to saying”how are you?”, so it should get a response. I always make a point of replying “I’m good thanks, how are you?”. If you want to purely greet someone, then just say “hello” or “hiya”.
CommunicationWide208@reddit
In my country we only ask "are You ok" if someone: 1) has serious health issue, 2) is a weirdo. So yeah, please stop asking me! Otherwise You'll regret it 😤
International-Wear57@reddit
My Australian roommate got confused why I kept asking her if she’s okay 😭 literally the exact same scenario.
GiovanniVanBroekhoes@reddit
Wait, I thought they used it too? I have a kiwi friend who definitely does, I thought it was common for the whole region.
hebejebez@reddit
It’s usually preceded by how’s it going so she might have lost that one in translation.
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
It's so funny seeing them so confused. 😂
Minute_Eye3411@reddit
In France, I used to reply in French to people "pas mal" (not bad) to when they said "comment ça va?".
Perfectly fine in an English context, but French people thought that I meant that things weren't going too well for me and that I was putting on a brave face. Now I say "bien merci" (fine thanks).
Now they don't look at me with a concerned expression when I'm merely making small talk.
jimbobsqrpants@reddit
Qui, ça va bien. Et tu
IsKetVegan@reddit
I live in Quebec and they say ‘pas pire’ which is the equivalent of our ‘not bad’. The French here is quite different though.
Minute_Eye3411@reddit
Hahaha! I guess that the Québecois are more used to direct translations of English speakers' expressions than the French.
IsKetVegan@reddit
Absolutely. Once you get your head around the accent I found it a lot easier than France French. I guess you also have the benefit of a lot of people being bilingual so they can make sense of my shite French.
Minute_Eye3411@reddit
There are some interesting particularities between the two French ways of speaking. One that I like is "dépanneur": a neighbourhood shop, typically late-night, in Québec; and a car-repair service in France. The etymologly is the same: a thing that helps you out when you're in need of something now.
kdamo@reddit
Do you not say endaxi in Greek basically meaning the same thing? So my Cypriot Greek barber says to me anyway
Logical_Bake_3108@reddit
The acceptable acceptable answers are either (if you're doing well) "yeah, alright?" or, if you're in utter soul crushing despair "not too bad"
Steel_and_Water83@reddit
"you alright?", "I'm OK yeah", "uh.. Good good" I know it sounds like a question, but it isn't!
travelingwhilestupid@reddit
as a native English speaker, "you alright?" caught me off-guard. where I'm from, that's only said if they other person has concern for you or is really annoyed by you. when it was first said to me I thought "what the hell have I done wrong?"
Why do you speak English to you sister?
ah52@reddit
Exactly! "How are you" is the default greeting filler question, usually expected to be followed up with trivially positive answers regardless of real feelings. "You alright" sounds mildly accusatory, and means I've done something wrong, have inconvenienced someone, or that I look like I'm dying...
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
We were born in the states and then moved to Greece when we were young. My parents didn't want to raise their family in America.
Fluid_Opinion@reddit
Moved to UK 3 years ago and I'm obsessed with saying "Hiya, ya awright?" Haha
TruthFront9660@reddit
This is the correct answer!
Old_Introduction_395@reddit
"wouldn't say Boo to a goose". I put this on my bio for work intranet, a colleague asked if I'd been frightened by a goose as a child.
PatKnightAgain@reddit
I knew someone who said "boo" to a goose just to see what happens. She 10 out of 10 doesn't recommend it.
Barmcake@reddit
I used to know someone who had guard geese. Best burglar alarm ever and quite scary when 4 came running at you hissing.
Jbulls94@reddit
You can't just drop "I know someone who had guard geese" and not provide anymore information. The questions are endless, who was this goose whisperer?
Barmcake@reddit
Was an ex of mine from years ago. He was offered rescue geese and they lived in the back garden. They kept sticking their heads through the cat flap. Funnily enough, they were all called Errol.
BarSalt970@reddit
I thought it was "wouldn't say boo to a ghost"
DirtyLittleBishop@reddit
I had a friend who thought it was ghost too and just would not believe that it was goose. Ended up getting loads of other friends in on the chat and he was still adamant it was ghost.
BarSalt970@reddit
Today is the first time ive heard the term boo to a goose. Just asked my family (south wales) and its ghost here. Google confirms its goose but ghost also is used
Scorpiodancer123@reddit
South Wales too mate. Maybe it's a regional thing?
BarSalt970@reddit
Pretty sure its regional, I asked in work earlier and its ghost here lol. 🤷♂️ people get uptight about their phrases it seems
fezzuk@reddit
Nkght jist be that your families wrong. Try asking outside of that specific bubble.
BarSalt970@reddit
I googled it hours ago. Goose is the normal, but ghost is used too.
fezzuk@reddit
Then you know that ghost is wrong. Its an incorrect use of the idiom.
BarSalt970@reddit
OK mammy's little helper if it makes you feel better. Getting bent out of shape over a phrase on bank holiday Monday
DirtyLittleBishop@reddit
That blows my mind! I’ve got a load of family from round your neck of the woods that I am now going to ask at the next family gathering.
Old_Introduction_395@reddit
Apparently goose is the original.
I'd take on a ghost before a goose.
jmr1190@reddit
Wait, there’s a variant with ‘ghost’ in it? That strips it of all its charm. It’s meant to sound slightly whimsical.
BarSalt970@reddit
Literally never heard the term say boo to a goose
il0vOxy@reddit
I guess you don’t read much, do you?
BarSalt970@reddit
Its boo to a ghost where im from
fezzuk@reddit
Its just wrong mate.
BarSalt970@reddit
In your opinion
fezzuk@reddit
No you can google it, its wrong.
BarSalt970@reddit
Lol googled it hours ago pal. Goose is the normal, ghost is also used.
fezzuk@reddit
Used incorrectly.
BarSalt970@reddit
In your opinion.
fezzuk@reddit
Well, i could care less.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
This totally went over his head too 😭 American's who say that do my swede in 😆
BarSalt970@reddit
No it didnt, I wasnt taking the bait is all
BarSalt970@reddit
Yes, that much is clear.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
Except not a single person here has agreed with you that they too thought it was also ghost, and MANY have disagreed. 😭
BarSalt970@reddit
They have actually... also, youre allowed to Google it.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
No one here has agreed with you, in fact there are even more downvotes than before?? People have made comparisons of your individual version of being like trying to sing to Pavarotti, told you it loses all its charm and that it's meant to be whimsical, being sarcastic when others have said "wait there's another version with ghost??" - replying "there is now" and the rest who outright told you you're wrong... You're seriously Cuckoo if any of that reads as agreement. 😭 Google might state, that some hard of hearing and ill-read people, have managed to completely bastardise a saying and get it arse over tit and create a new one, but that does not mean it's correct. The original,so THE SAYING, used by 99% of the population, is "boo to a goose". As someone else pointed out, ur as bad as the Americans who say "I could care less" when it's couldn't (thou that appeared to go over your head too 🫠)
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
i hate people who double down in their wrongness and then add "pal" in to an answer... Like I just knowwww this guy is an absolute tw*t (got a note saying I was breaking rule 1 so had to add a * - I thought tw*t was being polite too 🙃)
Anyway, who tf says "boo to a ghost" that's just outright wrong and someone's family who's got it wrong for generations (most likely his) and spread misinformation around a small area.
jmr1190@reddit
Relevant XKCD https://xkcd.com/1053/
AcidHouseMouse@reddit
No there’s not.
BarSalt970@reddit
Yes there is actually.
fire-wannabe@reddit
There is now.
Tay74@reddit
"Wouldn't say boo to a ghost" sounds more like a coals to Newcastle situation to me. Like, I would try and sing an aria to Pavarotti, wouldn't say boo to a ghost lol
AstroBearGaming@reddit
Why, did one frighten you as a child?
Scorpiodancer123@reddit
Same. You have a crazy amount of downvotes the this. Talk about people taking a phrase too seriously!
BarSalt970@reddit
Im sure some people think im saying goose is wrong 😂
Adventurous_Week_698@reddit
That's the PETA approved version
mynameisjodie@reddit
This is one of my favourite phrases
Constant-Map7687@reddit
It means you're very quiet, or even tempered. My father was not the worlds most outgoing man. He was often described to me as someone who was a nice man , wouldnt say boo to a goose .
marshallandy83@reddit
That's a weird thing to put on your bio at work tbf. Doesn't exactly come across as assertive!
Old_Introduction_395@reddit
It was a joke, I'm tall and loud. It was last century, a different time.
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
PMSL
shelbyeatenton@reddit
Please Make Some Lasagna ?
Only_Quote_Simpsons@reddit
I worked with a lady who would always say "don't be afraid" if I said "I'm afraid I am not free at that time" etc.
Funny hearing it the first time, infuriating by the 20th...
rufferina@reddit
I_like_Your_Face500@reddit
That's an Eddie Izzard joke as well "We're all out of crab, I'm afraid"
lilixxumm@reddit
I had someone ask me, " why are you scared?"
eltrotter@reddit
Reminds me of a Rich Hall joke.
Ever since 9/11 there's been this atmosphere of fear everywhere you go. Just the other day I was at a bar and asked for a Coke and the server said "We only have Pepsi... I'm afraid."
Silent_Rhombus@reddit
That’s like the old Rich Hall joke:
There is a climate of fear in Britain. I asked a lady in a shop for a ham sandwich and she said ‘we don’t have any ham sandwiches left. I’m afraid.’
PositiveTemporary977@reddit
I was carrying two bags of ericacious from the garden centre, in a roller duffel, i assured the lady sitting next to me it wasnt a body, akward
No-Communication3618@reddit
Can I bum a fag? “I mean i guess so, it’s a free country!”
mcternan@reddit
My American mate's face when I told her I'm going out to "smoke a fag" was something else
L-0-T-H-0-S@reddit
"I'll bear it in mind" - It doesn't mean that at all. Literally it means, I've forgotten whatever it was even before you said it.
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
And if you’re selling something, this is us politely telling you that you will never see us again. See also: “ahh right, I might pop back later!” 🤣
Zelengro@reddit
We did this on holiday once to one of those lads that stand outside restaurants trying to coax you to go inside. He’d clearly heard it once too often and started shouting, ‘Later, later, later!’ at us in a really snotty way. My sister called him a ‘rude so-and-so’ told him we had no intention of ever coming back now. It occurred to me then what a weird way of communicating we have, and we left him standing there wondering what a so-and-so was 😂.
bobsnervous@reddit
They called me a soehundso! What the fuck is that?
Odd-Quail01@reddit
So and so. Fill in the blanks with rude or disparaging words.
A cad and a bounder
Scruffy and a flake
Uncouth and stupid
_Pencilfish@reddit
A Knave and Scoundrel!
Constant-Map7687@reddit
Ah you mean so and so. Its a polite way of calling you a name.
AlternativeWaltz2851@reddit
It means you are a pain!
Wild_Wolverine9526@reddit
Along with “now isn’t a good time” which actually translates to-I’m not interested, leave me alone. Not- come back another day.
queen_naga@reddit
This is the in person likeness of something like “ I hope this email finds you well” or “ I look forward to hearing from you soon”
WatchingTellyNow@reddit
That habit of starting an email makes my skin crawl. The first sentence in the email is a bear-faced* lie because they don't give a monkey's if I'm well or not, so why would I believe a word in the rest of the email!
PriceLive6912@reddit
Usually they say Bear with me but there is literally no bears with them
Far-Adhesiveness3763@reddit
When people say "bear with me" I ask if they'd like me to call the police
Astropoppet@reddit
If someone asks me to bear with them, I ask what they are going to be and offer to be a panda
Wild_Wolverine9526@reddit
Which is always sad. I’d be much more inclined to listen if they had a bear with them (real or teddy).
Caddy666@reddit
thats what we want you to think. then we release the bears.
rositree@reddit
I normally make some kind of grr-bear-paws. Then comment how they didn't bear at all.
Not many people get it, but it amuses me.
Tora-bora83@reddit
Imagine if it was bare with me
il0vOxy@reddit
I actually see “bare with me” more than the correct spelling on Reddit. I’ve had to tell strangers I do not want to get naked with them but thanks for asking.
SarahL1990@reddit
There was a manager at a call centre I worked at who told us we can't say "bear with me" to customers because it means lie naked with me.
I didn't argue the point, just tried not to say it, which is quite difficult.
Scorpiodancer123@reddit
My friend used to work in a call centre and a customer literally complained about her for this exact thing. Some people honestly.
Tora-bora83@reddit
Funnily enough, I commented to someone else on this thread asking what they’re going to bare
x0_Kiss0fDeath@reddit
Agree. "I'll bear that in mind" is basically the equivalent of "Cool story, so anyways...." where nobody even paid attention to the suggestion made.
Derezzed87@reddit
I'll bear that in mind.
Dave190768@reddit
I really wish you hadn’t said that because I was going to lol
Estrellathestarfish@reddit
Or "I reject this entirely"
kackers643259@reddit
in a similar vein, "i/we'll think about it" often means "that was such a stupid idea i can't believe you allowed it to exit your mouth"
Jaybee021967@reddit
Especially when you’re a kid your parents would say I’ll think about it to most things eg going to the park, getting an ice cream or something for Xmas etc
Pin1888@reddit
"Aye, I'll think about it" means "naw, no happening eejit heid" with an eye roll and snigger for effect
JK07@reddit
It does my tits in, the big boss says this all the time.
You tell him a valid engineering or logistical reason why something can't be done.. "I'll bear that in mind."
A few days later he asks you to do the impossible... "Well no, because like we said..."
Or you'd start trying your best to do the impossible then he'd question "Why's this not been done yet?!" For all the reasons you said you'd bear in mind FFS.
ellasfella68@reddit
Sorry,what?
TessMacc@reddit
😂 I said this to a room full of British people a couple of weeks ago and it was comforting that we all knew where we stood.
Mc_and_SP@reddit
🐻🧠
No_Fail9845@reddit
🤣
Lovecatx@reddit
'I'm afraid I can't do that'. (Or any phrase that uses 'afraid' to mean 'sorry').)
I used to use a site called something like 'iTalkie' when I was a teenager, back in the 00s, and what it did was match you with people that wanted to improve a language, so for me it would give me people wanting to brush up on their English. It used a text chat format like MSN messenger or Yahoo! Messenger.
My language partners would always, without fail, take the 'I'm afraid' part as me meaning that I was scared. They would immediately go into trying to comfort me and ask what I was scared of and if I was alright. Always very sweet of them. I really should have removed that phrase from my general speech when typing to them, but I'm Autistic (undiagnosed at the time but that doesn't change the fact) so my speech patterns are very ingrained in me.
TurbulentLeg1084@reddit
“I might just…”
Tip for ESL speakers, if a British person says this about something small like taking the bins out or nipping to the shops, that’s their way of letting you know they are doing it. They’re not musing about their options out loud, even though that’s what it sounds like.
“Do you want to do x?” Is one I’ve also seen misunderstood, though I don’t know if it was really a misunderstanding or someone being cheeky! (When said by someone senior about a task in work or home it’s a polite request rather than genuinely asking if you want to do it or not).
Globalfeminist@reddit
"Do you want to...?"... oh, boy. 10 years in England and I'm still not used to that one. (Having AuADHD doesn't help). I know it's actually an obligation, and I learnt not to give a real answer, but I sometimes get this confused look like... 'why do you ask me what I want? I'm nobody'.
Kindly_Difference_99@reddit
LOL. I am European and remember my boss asking me once if I want to x whilst he also gave me a lot to do. I said not at the moment, because I’m finishing this big assignment. The look on his face! That’s when I realised that was more of a rhetorical question and a request rather that anything else. I mean back then I was just thinking, he could’ve said it more direct!
floodtracks@reddit
Forever my favourite story when my supervisor at university told me: You might want to reconsider writing that again.
And, I, a German, considered. And after my consideration decided, nope not writing that again. He was so taken aback by my decision.
Unusual-Young3140@reddit
Learnt this the hard way with our first child. Parent: "Do you want to get ready for bed?". Child: "No thanks". Parent: Oh shit, got me there a good un...
thingsliveundermybed@reddit
My three year old lately: "do you want to open this for me?" 😐
petrolea250@reddit
Oh my god yes, "do you want to" tripped me up SO much my first years here haha. With added autism that made me default to the literal interpretation and slavic bluntness that has me used to people just giving me orders and it being perfectly polite, it was a trick. My manager would say "do you want to take the bins out?" and i'd go "well. no, i don't really. but i'll do it if it needs done, no complaints". Made me pull the foreigner card quite often lmao.
TurbulentLeg1084@reddit
Don’t worry. You know what, I’m a native speaker and only realised as a married adult that when people say “I do it this way” they were unhappy with the way I was doing it and were telling me to do it their way. And I realised because my spouse finally told me!
Every time it happened prior, I genuinely just thought people were chatting about their different way of doing it.
goodmythicalmickey@reddit
In the same vein as "do you want to do...?" we've also got "is it alright if I...?" aka "I'm going to do this, just letting you know"
superjambi@reddit
This is a good one.
Also, in a professional setting, "it would be great if we could have this done by X time/date", means this is the deadline I expect this work by and will be unhappy if it is not done by then. However instead of expressing their unhappiness they will just say "this isnt ideal" and then just silently carry a lower opinion of you going forward.
0nce-Was-N0t@reddit
This one struck a nerve.
rbar174@reddit
Aah the old 'do you want to put the kettle on?'
pigsonthewing@reddit
"How're you?"
talligan@reddit
Not so bad and yourself?
pigsonthewing@reddit
"Can't complain"
hellosunshinesuper@reddit
Not three bad…
PingouinFluffy@reddit
On the motorway there are signs up saying "Mind your speed". Surely it would be better to say, don't speed or speed limit is 70 mph. What does mind your speed actually mean? Such an odd phrase, maybe I am over thinking it.
BalthazarOfTheOrions@reddit
"Let's have dinner next week" is an absolute lie for politeness' sake, and we're left thinking we've offended the British person because the invite never comes.
KiPhoe@reddit
"Bob's your uncle"
"No he's not"
Publandlady@reddit
Trying to reassure someone that I wasn't well, but I wasn't that bad and using the phrase "bit under the weather". I then had two things to reassure them about....
Mean-Common-3320@reddit
‘If you could … that would be great’ - actually means ‘You must …’
Professional_Deal565@reddit
"That went well"
ImTalkingGibberish@reddit
This one is my favourite, complete shambles
Any_Preference_4147@reddit
AKA: That was a complete and utter shit show
Professional_Deal565@reddit
Exactly. We don't explain it, but if there is a non British person present who hears it they say "great, well done!" without understanding that the key was tone, not words. It's almost unfair on them.
Friendly-Extreme-850@reddit
"Are you alright?" I have had a number of Americans think that I'm showing genuine concern or that I think they are sad. I'm just saying hello
Intelligent-Car-2982@reddit
Asking an American if they are alright/ok they become concerned that something might be deeply wrong other than just a hello
BulkyHulk78@reddit
"I hear what you're saying". You may have heard it but you didn't necessarily retain the info. This one might not just be a UK thing as it's, I used to use it it when I worked in a call centre with customers who thought they were right about our policies before I had to correct them.
EasyCheesecake1@reddit
How are you?
Some people actually think you care and want to hear how they are.
Kindly_Supermarket12@reddit
Working in a pub that gets plenty of tourists, I always regret starting with this one .... I've got things to do, I really didn't need the whole story
EasyCheesecake1@reddit
There are countries, like Germany and the Scandinavian block where small talk is not so common and asking 'How are you?' is treated like a legitimate question so your tourists may be giving you a run down of their woes.
The_Dark_Vampire@reddit
And the response of "Could be worse" could mean anything between you legitimately are doing pretty well to your life is falling apart
RedTheWolf@reddit
I went through a load of fucking dire cancer treatment last year, and realised while in the midst of chemo, that I had stopped saying 'could be worse' and had started simply saying 'ach, still alive'. That was the moment I realised things had never, in fact, been worse and it actually helped push me to seek some mental health support 😅
So, I guess our native talent for downplaying stuff was actually useful in that respect... I am now doing well enough that I say 'getting there' so am pretty proud of my progress lol
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
No it’s not a talent. If you’d been able to be honest, you would’ve realised sooner, and had help earlier.
RedTheWolf@reddit
I wasn't being dishonest, I simply didn't realise how much the hardship was affecting my mental wellbeing, but go ahead, be weirdly rude to a cancer survivor for no reason I guess, if it makes you happy.
cherubeal@reddit
I reply with "Living the dream" every time, which translates into "I exist in an unending purgatory, and yet, I continue".
WArslett@reddit
I had a boss in Sweden once. Our first one to one:
Only in Britain could “Not too bad” mean “I’m completely fine and have absolutely nothing to complain about”
YearObvious7214@reddit
Not particularly. In Polish you have very similar response that says: "not the worst". Arguably sound even more dire than "not too bad". And I could bet there's loads of similar sayings in many languages. It's just that people probably won't even consider it much if it's in native language, but if you're not familiar with nuances of another it stands out more.
Inside_Restaurant759@reddit
"With respect..." typically means "Choose your words carefully boy-o"
alacklustrehindu@reddit
Having lived here for a while, I must say the phoniness of the Brits are off the chart.
If you don't like it, say it.
AtomicPhotographyUK@reddit
It's not phoniness, we all know what people mean - we just consider directness rude.
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
As a Brit, that’s ridiculous and something we need to work on because, no, not all of us knows what people mean. Directness can still be polite, and being indirect is not (always) polite. It is often very impolite.
AtomicPhotographyUK@reddit
I didn't say indirect war always polite, but most Brits dislike directness, it comes across as blunt and rude when your used to softening language, go read reviews of Brits staying in Slavic or Baltic hotels for evidence... I'm AuDHD and no, it didn't come naturally, just like visual cues, but it can be learnt. There are similarities in other cultures that people ignore. I work in IT and often with with outsource companies in India - took a while to learn that staying "yes" whilst shaking head means - I've heard you but "No" as an example.
Flagrant_Unicorn@reddit
"With all due respect" actually means "with absolutely no respect"
EvilRobotSteve@reddit
I love this one because it never specifies how much respect is due. It could be a little, could be literally none. It’s great because it’s not lying, but it’s a generally accepted polite way to insult people.
CommunicationWide208@reddit
I think it's valid in many countries
Estrellathestarfish@reddit
Well, it means the amount of respect due to them, which incidentally means none
FerretChrist@reddit
"'I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and the rest of you are total cunts."
anarchtea@reddit
Respect that is so negatively due it's become a debt with interest.
WiredAndTheSpitfire@reddit
I’m going to need to remember this one but not to actually say out loud obviously just in my own head I can’t be impolite to people
damagednoob@reddit
I've always interpreted this as, "I know of no other nice way of saying this but I don't want to offend you".
SilverellaUK@reddit
I can just see the man I sat next to in a call centre.
Palms on desk, pushes chair back from his desk and stands glaring at the information on his monitor. "With all due respect....."
FSM_666@reddit
Can't believe this is so low down!
Flagrant_Unicorn@reddit
I can't believe I was relatively polite.
NetworkHot8469@reddit
‘That’s a shame.’ My colleague thought i wad really offended and was saying her actions were shameful.
New-Strategy-1673@reddit
In korea a British army unit was outnumbered 600 vs 30000 at Imjin River.
When radio'd they reported 'things are a bit sticky', a British commander would have understood the understatement and sent everything.. unfortunately it was an American general on the other end who took it to mean everything was under control. And so died the Glorious Gloucesters, only 30 or so survived
Snoo-84389@reddit
Said by Brit: "What a lovely evening, you must come round for dinner sometime..."
Interpreted by non-Brit: "They liked us and they have invited us round for dinner! 😀"
What was meant: "Well at least you weren't a complete bore, but you probably won't ever hear from us again 😑"
rubys_arms@reddit
This is the one that always confused me the most as an immigrant. Took me years to realise I was never going to get an invite.
hkmadl@reddit
SAME! I actually really dislike this fake politeness. It’s not polite to extend an invitation you don’t mean 🙃
rubys_arms@reddit
Agreed! Another (to me) very British thing is to cancel last minute. I've realised a lot of Brits seem to think it's ruder to say "I'm not sure/I can't make it" when invited to something, so they'll say yes and then cancel the day before or day of. It's happened enough times to think it's a common pattern.
catasha7@reddit
We have all the intentions of coming but our social battery is dead, we get anxiety about the thing or another minor convienence has happened by then.
bowak@reddit
The trouble with that approach though is the second order effects. If I've turned down an offer to go somewhere with person C as I have plans made with person B, but B cancels last minute as they just can't be arsed that day then that leaves me in the lurch.
Exceptions obviously for illness (whether short term or long term), a family emergency, they never otherwise bail but that day was just too much etc - but if it becomes a habit that's going to be considered when deciding who to make plans with
hkmadl@reddit
OMG ARE YOU ME!
I got so frustrated with my friends lately as so many of them kept cancelling last min or even ghosting! I then started working out the common denominator is that they are all Brits… my friends from other countries who live here tend to be better at making and sticking to plans!
Or they will make plans in person saying they are free on Tuesday two weeks, then when you follow up few days before to fix a time and place to meet they never reply.. wtf!
lost_send_berries@reddit
I say to myself time and place, time and place. If you haven't already set those, you haven't made plans at all.
Snoo-84389@reddit
Hi, I'm British and that behaviour you've experienced (cancelling or ghosting from a committed event) is just plain rude.
I really dislike having to change plans once I've committed to something (as per my message higher up this thread). If something else urgent and unavoidable pops up unexpectedly (which can happen) then i would at least give you that explanation.
My apologies for the terrible behaviour that you are experiencing from my countrymen / women - i suspect that they will be from a different / younger generation, as i am older and I wouldn't do that.
wilsonthehuman@reddit
Came here to say this. It's just rude. Obviously if something else comes up or you get sick or there's an emergency or whatever then that's fine, life happens. But letting the other person just wonder what happened and not even giving them the courtesy of a quick message is just nothing but rude. Honestly none of my friends have ever done that and I certainly don't. If I have to cancel something or change the date of something I let the other person know. It's exactly the same courtesy I expect from others.
Just sounds like the other commenter has just met some crappy people and unfortunately some people do seem to think that extending general manners towards others is optional. If you're out of social battery, just say so. It takes a minute or two to type a text message. Hell, I have multiple chronic illnesses and constant chronic pain. I get fatigued often. Sometimes I'll plan something with a friend but by the time it comes around I'm struggling or in a flare or too fatigued and have to move the thing or cancel. No matter how fatigued I am, I will still let the other person know because manners are still important. Ghosting is just a guarantee that eventually you'll stop being invited to things. To me, someone not even bothering to let me know they can't make something just wastes my time and tells me that they don't actually care about other people.
rubys_arms@reddit
Yep. I now just have different expectations on my British vs non-British friends but I lost some before I realised this was a cultural thing (basically I called them out which they didn't like)
Ohbc@reddit
Which is far ruder than just saying no.
hkmadl@reddit
AMEN
rubys_arms@reddit
Agreed.
OMGItsCheezWTF@reddit
It is meant to be understood by both parties that no invitation has been extended. It doesn't become an invitation unless there's a specific date and time in the invitation. Without that it's just a pleasant speculation.
hkmadl@reddit
I think it’s a rare British thing because not many cultures behave like that!
CommunicationWide208@reddit
Find other immigrants, You'll get a lot of invitations 🤗
Helpful_Elderberry91@reddit
I am a Brit and thought this was an invite for ages. I was always like why invite us again when we are leaving, we've only just done it and I want to lie down in a dark room now!!!
Anxious-Seesaw-2222@reddit
I love that this British version is the same as ‘inshallah, we’ll go for dinner’!
Whiskazynska@reddit
Hmm don't agree with this one. Totally acceptable to say this a couple of times and totally want to but just not be in a position to pin down a date. Who gets their calendar out at the end of an evening to book in the next one immediately? Also, there are loads of people I'd love to have over but can't quite manage it due to hectic life and young kids. I don't actually think I've said this to someone who I don't want to have round.
anotherMrLizard@reddit
Yeah, people have got the wrong end of the stick with this; it's a lot more subtle than they're making it out to be. What it really means is, "It'd be great to have you over for dinner, but let's acknowledge we've all got a lot going on and it might not happen anytime soon."
Only a mental person would say "come round for dinner sometime" to someone they don't want to have round to dinner.
hkmadl@reddit
I hate that with a passion, just don’t say that if you don’t mean it
Ohbc@reddit
Yes! What's even point if you both know you don't mean it
Snoo-84389@reddit
Ingrained British politeness!
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
It isn’t polite though, is it?
xian0@reddit
I've only seen upper-class obsessed middle-class people do it, basically as a LARP.
The_Dark_Vampire@reddit
And a answer of "Yeah sure/Of course" means "we agree we are never going to do it"
hardboard@reddit
Or the sarcastic reply, "I'd rather stay unconscious."
APiousCultist@reddit
That's an entirely own goal for the person saying it.
Ohbc@reddit
But how do Brits actually invite someone for dinner???
Snoo-84389@reddit
As others here have said - by clearly and explicitly asking someone at some point at that do or later via text E.G. "Hi there Jon and Lucy, would you be free for dinner next Friday evening?"
The_Dark_Vampire@reddit
You actually give a time and date.
Grunn84@reddit
Or if not being that specific I think a time frame is acceptable to indicate its a real offer "meet up again in a week or two?"
The_Dark_Vampire@reddit
And then it switches if the person getting asked doesn't really want to the reply is "Yeah sure I'll get back to you"
0nce-Was-N0t@reddit
"Sounds good... let's touch base on this next week"
Everyone has forgotten about it
Grunn84@reddit
Absolutely
Moppo_@reddit
We can do that?
Morris_Alanisette@reddit
By actually agreeing a date. Just saying "we must meet for dinner some time" means "I don't want to meet for dinner".
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
“do you wanna come for tea on x date”, anything left open ended is because we’re trying to avoid ever seeing your face again xoxo
Puzzleheaded-Lynx204@reddit
An actionable request eg "would you like to come for dinner on Thursday"
Silver_Procedure_490@reddit
British people tend to pussyfoot around things which is what causes the issue. Then they get offended by people who say what they mean.
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
As a British person, yes. I actually find it a bit of a weakness. Should be able to say what you mean. Can still be done politely.
Silver_Procedure_490@reddit
Agreed. I also think not saying what we mean causes more issues in the longer term.
PARTINlCO@reddit
As an American, my first “You awwwright?” threw me off. I was thinking to myself like, oh my god, do i look clapped out or something today, of course i’m alright?!? Is something on my face? What?
Heathy-Heatherson@reddit
Noo that's so funny. Americans say "what's up?" as a greeting too tho right?
seklas1@reddit
What? Do I have a boner? Is it visible? Why would anybody ask me if anything’s up?
Hard_Dave@reddit
Is there a doctor in the room? And a rabbit?
PARTINlCO@reddit
We do, even “‘sup?”
FerretChrist@reddit
Occasionally even "wazzzaaaaaa", if the media is to be believed.
Heathy-Heatherson@reddit
"Awright?" is just British "sup?" ig
PARTINlCO@reddit
I would only say “what’s up” to a friend/acquaintance though.. like, I wouldn’t say it to the bank teller or grocery store clerk. My understanding is “you alright?” is akin to our american “Hey, how are ya” (which i would say to the bank teller or grocery store worker)
Heathy-Heatherson@reddit
Tbh I probably would say all of those to a person at a bank haha.
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
the shop fsss, I couldn’t imagine yalreeting the dude at the bank though hahaha
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
Yeah Brits don’t walk into a bank and go “yalreet” either, unless you were a bit of a chav lol. I have never thought about this before, but it is literally the English version of sup hahaha
prussian_princess@reddit
"ThE sKy Is Up"
ADamnGoodShot@reddit
Lived here two years. It still throws me every time I'm asked it.
IansGotNothingLeft@reddit
"Don't worry/about it". I frequently drop that into a sentence when I'm answering a question at work - "Don't worry, it's not a problem" etc. But I work with Germans. And they sometimes say "Oh I'm not worried!".
mynameisjodie@reddit
Never ever ask you alright to a brit if you are literally asking them to make conversation because it isn't an opening for a conversation it's a yeah mate I'm good and that's it
Banksyyy_@reddit
Very late but I have a Lithuanian friend who thought I was being very mean when I replied "yeah knock yourself out" after she asked to borrow my phone charger.
StrikingTonight150@reddit
I have actually let my hair down from a bun when someone told me let you hair down have some fun. Not sure this is due to autism or being a foreigner. Maybe both
After-Huckleberry580@reddit
I did this and I’m from the UK and am autistic ADHD.
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
I love this
nancy_jean@reddit
I work with a guy who always says, “leave it with me” when I complain about something that needs to be done and I’ve learned that it simply means Fuck off.
banwe11@reddit
"Do you fancy a bit of 'ow's yer father?" 😉
bunkyboy91@reddit
There was thing about these sorts of sayings recently in an "article"
Apparently the younger generations have no idea what things like "hanky panky" and "how's your father" means. I don't blame them tbf but you can't kill the classics
IllustriousLimit8473@reddit
I'm part of the younger generation and I DO know what they mean. Don't exactly SAY them but I would understand the meaning.
Crivens999@reddit
I’m in my 50s. Don’t think I’ve ever said them either. Or my parents. Think more like an old TV thing than actually what most people say regularly
bunkyboy91@reddit
It wasn't meant as a dig. Sorry.
IllustriousLimit8473@reddit
Never said it was. Just saying that I know the meaning.
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
Never heard the second and hate the first
anarchtea@reddit
Nudge nudge wink wink.
illarionds@reddit
Nod's as good as a wink, to a blind bat.
Donium_Quixotius@reddit
Say no more say no more
jaggy_bunnet@reddit
A: "Fancy a bit of crumpet?"
B: "OK, I'll go and get some jam."
A: "Phwooooarr!"
rlaw1234qq@reddit
“Sorry”
Ok_Net4562@reddit
Wft - i hear poles often ask " what is the fuck" . We dont actually want to know what the fuck is
I_like_Your_Face500@reddit
Definitely "sorry". People from other countries always seem to comment that we over apologise, but they just take it too literally.
Maccaboonda@reddit
Freaked me out the first time I was told "I'll knock you up in the morning". That does not mean the same thing where I come from!
drivelhead@reddit
As someone from Lancashire, "'ow do me cock".
Livid_Zone4260@reddit
“I turned around and said”, why are people revolving while they talk, seems very odd?.
Even_Happier@reddit
My husband got reported to HR by an American colleague for threatening physical violence because he used the phrase “…you’d probably get a slap on the wrist”. HR (American) agreed this was indeed a threat of violence and he got into a lot of trouble over it.
Both-West7668@reddit
"Slap on the wrist" is an extremely common phrase for Americans too so this is really strange to me! Is it possible they were being intentionally obtuse?
Even_Happier@reddit
That’s what I thought! I’ve heard other people use the phrase, including other people in his office. But, he got a formal written warning and ‘a course’ to go on.
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
Why did he not complain? You can’t get a formal warning for saying a commonly accepted and appropriate British phrase??????
Even_Happier@reddit
Because HR agreed with the complainant. Told him that if he hadn’t have admitted to it he would have been fired. HR person said they had never heard the phrase before.
Both-West7668@reddit
HR person should've looked it up, that's ridiculous honestly. That really sucks for your husband, I'm sorry! Not right at all
Robynsxx@reddit
“Hahahaha sure.”
That doesn’t mean yes. It means I’m not listening to what you just said.
BCF13@reddit
I”I couldn’t give a monkeys” has needed explaining to a few foreign coworkers, trying to explain that I don’t have any pet monkeys is always a laugh.
CommunicationWide208@reddit
Of course. You can never give what You don't have ✨
SuperExstatic@reddit
“Bobs your uncle “ , no my uncle is bogdan
CommunicationWide208@reddit
Wow, we have the same uncle 😀
KisaMisa@reddit
I gotta say that reading Terry Pratchett in English seems like a decent way to familiarize oneself with these types of British expressions.
"But you send him off to see a lot of other ducks, let him get his feet wet, and he won't go running around after any bantams anymore. And Bob's your uncle."
"Surely Bjorn Stronginthearm is my uncle," he pointed out slowly.
"Same thing."
"You're saying," he said, weighing every word,"that we should send Carrot away to be a duck among humans because Bjorn Stronginthearm is my uncle."
BusyWorth8045@reddit
Football’s coming home.
Live-Motor-4000@reddit
Also, the C-bomb.
Many use it like the rest of the world uses dick - and many use it to just mean a particular someone - “tall C”, “fat c” , “this c***” etc. - and it is not that offensive in context, despite clearly being vulgar language
queen_naga@reddit
If someone couldn’t get into a building due to accessibility issues would you blame them or the building? I’m not saying it is a direct comparison but it is the building that did not consider it in its initial design. I do not take offence to people asking me but don’t lopk so surprised when I answer. The observation here is, that is a weird saying that multiple countries seemingly have that is quite strange.
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
I’m English and I also used to answer. I agree with you.
agnesdotter@reddit
"It's just around the corner" and "five minutes" - pure lies.
New-Assumption-3106@reddit
I had an appoinment at a clients house some years ago. He spoke perfect English, but he was not a native English speaker. When it came time to leave my home office to drive to the appointment my phone went with an urgent ussue for one of my other clients, which I dealt with, immediately followed by another issue. Dealt with that and grabbed keys. Another call, more delay. E-mailed client to say I was late. Two more calls.
I finally made it to the car and got to the client. As I arrived i apologised for my tardiness and said, "I couldn't get out of the house."
He looked extremely alarmed and grabbed me by the shoulders and said "WHY??? WHAT HAPPENED"
lilphoenixgirl95@reddit
At least he seemed to care!
TamaktiJunVision@reddit
It's coming home
swirlypepper@reddit
I got in trouble when I moved here aged eight and drew a picture to go with whatever I'd never to write about for the lesson. Got asked "do you want to colour it in for me?" and I thought this was a question and not a request. Got in trouble for cheek because I thought no thanks was an acceptable answer.
129sapphires@reddit
“Hang on a minute!”
Yourepissed@reddit
I learned the hard way that “go on” simply means ‘yes’ and does not mean the person wants you to keep talking about the thing.
Also fancy dress does not mean to dress fancy. It means to wear a costume. And looking smart is actually dressing fancy.
I am Canadian btw these were just a few things for me.
The first time I got asked “you alright?” I thought the person wanted to fight.
jalapeobean@reddit
In a work context if your British manager asks “Would you like handle xyz?”, they’re not really asking your preference; they’re telling you to do it!
See this miscommunication happen once where a German team member was asked and just said: “No don’t want to.” Beautiful culture clash to behold.
Defiant_Classic_7774@reddit
"Fuck off!!" When said to mean 'I don't believe you. '
Constant-Map7687@reddit
Manchester slang . Did I heckers like, means an emphatic no I didn't .
For example: fid you steal my food from the fridge ?
Did I heckers like.
EnvironmentalBelt979@reddit
Oh I love these, taught for 10 years abroad. Some of my phrases that used to throw people-
Hold ya horses, It’s chucking it down/ raining cats and dogs, Having a chinwag, I kid you not. *I feel poorly- they thought I meant I was broke
One that got me in Malaysia, if a group of us were going somewhere, they’d say I’ll follow you which meant they’d come in the car with you, not follow you in their car…. I could never quite get my head around that one.
Brido-20@reddit
"Let's keep in touch."
Translation: I find you tedious and hope to never hear from you again.
NobblyNobody@reddit
'Mustn't grumble'
=
'If i start i won't stop, don't make me think about it, I may need to be hospitalised, so let's not ask any more questions, ta'
w1ddersh1ns@reddit
In my locality we say "see you later" (sometimes shortened to "s'later") when we actually mean goodbye.
Crochetqueenextra@reddit
Even worse one of my friends always says 'taters'
ClarSco@reddit
Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew
The_Dark_Vampire@reddit
"See ya when I see ya" could mean anything between you will meet up again soon or it could be years before you see each other again or maybe never.
No_Violinist_5702@reddit
My ex was Italian , someone once said to him “see you later” and he was super confused as they had no plans. He told me that phrase in Italian would imply you were actually meeting later that day.
awesomepanda9379@reddit
I find non-English speakers don’t really get “…I’m afraid” when you mean sorry or are being apologetic
Dangerous-Ad-1298@reddit
„You alright?” as in „tell me how you’re feeling and whether you are ok”
FilDaFunk@reddit
"how are you?"
Steph_AltQQ@reddit
I know so many people who get confused about us saying “You alright?” Thinking we are doing a welfare check or actually care about how they feel.
Sad_String_102@reddit
when i was in america, i said to my friend "I am going out to smoke a fag". It turns out that means something very very different in america lol.
Chemical-Demand-5741@reddit
During the Battle of the Imjin river during the Korean War, the US commander of the battle group radioed the British Brigade which was defending part of the line that was under extreme pressure from a massive Chinese offensive.
The response from the British commander of the brigade was something along the lines of "it's getting a little tight." Despite being outnumbered 8 to 1 and being cut off from allied forces.
So no reinforcement was sent to aid in their defence.
The brigade was mostly destroyed with many being captured.
Not the time for typical British understatement.
madformattsmith@reddit
when youre jokingly telling a mate what a massive cunt they are, but then the minute you jokingly tell that to an american and suddenly they get all arsey cuz they took it abit too literally then they threaten you with fisticuffs
PsychologicalDish430@reddit
I was chatting to a colleague based in India once. When he phoned me has asked how I am, I said "I'm on top of the world for a Monday morning". He replied "what are you doing up there?"
Chimpville@reddit
"It's coming home."
ChoppingOnionsForYou@reddit
No it's bloody not! It's gone on and extended tour round Europe and is planning an even longer trip round the entire world right after.
amanset@reddit
Living abroad in a country that loves football, I've had to explain this so many times.
They genuinely think it is arrogance.
ClaryClarysage@reddit
'lay the table' got me some looks off my american cousins...
Sea-Leave2077@reddit
Footballs coming home.
I know it’s not quite a phrase but people abroad think it’s a sign of arrogance and miss the whole point of the song.
meshan@reddit
Ya, aw-reet pet
Vehlin@reddit
Rest hinny
JK07@reddit
Hews it gannin petal
armintanzarian420@reddit
"Me ducky"
Roach-3112@reddit
I heard this comment, I swear 😂
richmiles667@reddit
I said "bugger that" in Romania. A phrase that they'd never heard before.
They looked up bugger in the dictionary and I spent the next hour trying to explain that I didn't mean it literally
fartingbeagle@reddit
They should know that since it came from 'Bulgarian '.
Visible-Pomelo7748@reddit
In northern Ireland, greeting someone with "what about ye?" which is in fact nonsense when I stop and think about it. Appropriate response is "you know yourself".
tiptoe_only@reddit
I'm a British person who's autistic and this whole thread is giving me anxiety
NoodleDoodlesocks@reddit
Had one pharmacist get annoyed cause I would tell customers things would be "in a minute" or "just a wee minute." He thought it actually meant a minute.
Visible-Pomelo7748@reddit
"I'll have a think about it" = let's never speak about this again. Applies to conversation topics and invitations to events. I once said this to my partner and he replied with "that's a no for later". Really made me laugh.
Puzzleheaded-Lynx204@reddit
"Sorry"
TermPsychological358@reddit
Once had a Pakistani classmate exclaim "but how do I know when you're actually sorry!" and I had to explain that an apology would normally be more emphatic, eg "I'm so sorry" and "I can only apologise"
BodySurfersRus@reddit
Meaning "get out of my way"....
Puzzleheaded-Lynx204@reddit
Or "you owe me an apology" or "could you repeat that" or "I'm sad that happened to you" or "are you serious?!" Or "I'm glad to be inflicting this discomfort on you".
Or "sorry".
0nce-Was-N0t@reddit
You will be
Rough_Bobcat8688@reddit
It's coming home!
jimmy011087@reddit
Footballs coming home. It’s a nostalgic, ironic song about how we constantly bottle it at the big moment in tournaments yet every foreigner seems to think it’s us being arrogant.
Ok-Volume-3112@reddit
I told a North American colleague at work that I was snowed under, and they said “Oh gosh, I hope the weather gets better for you soon!”.
Coconutpieplates@reddit
Are you alright? We aren't really asking you anything. And when something was "really quite good" it was amazing and not the patronising shit show someone might assume.
user_error101@reddit
Years ago, I remember asking a Chinese student if they had the time, ie what time is it. She looked very suspicious and asked me 'why?'
AdeptAtPoorDecisions@reddit
“Are you all right?” on the shops. Yes ofc i’m well.
pingusaysnoot@reddit
I remember my husband asking me what I was up to while we were on the phone one evening when we were first dating. He's from Ireland.
I told him I was 'sat on my billy' - a phrase he'd never heard. He thought I was telling him that I was sat on a sex toy 😂🤦🏼♀️ Took him a while to understand what I meant was I was just 'sat on my own doing nothing of interest'.
Vussar@reddit
In one case during the Korean War, a british unit from Gloucester was in danger of being overrun. When asked for a situation report by an American General, the officer in charge responded "Things are a bit sticky" (referring to a sticky wicket from Cricket).
The American thought this meant things were okay, when to the cricket obsessed british officer corp meant "we are fucked"
ChewMango@reddit
“you alright” gets a funny reaction from the Americans. They always say “yeah i’m okay, why you ask?”
TheAdmiralDong@reddit
I remember going to Iceland (the country, not the shop) and ending conversations by saying "Take care!"
One time the Icelandic bloke serving me in a pub said to me as I walked away "Take care doesn't translate too well culturally here. You're basically walking away and saying 'Watch your back!'"
I stuck to "Have a good day," after that.
ThomasAugsburger@reddit
I'll try and make it next time - (I will probably never come to an event that you have organised)
eidolons@reddit
(and further, fully intended to be elsewhere that you could not catch me out, just now, about this time.)
SnooRevelations4882@reddit
"Fuck off, no way!" does not mean I don't believe you and I hate you as it was taken by a Spanish friend once. Literally post my friendship because she would not accept I didn'tean it disrespectfully!
Hefty_Tip7383@reddit
‘You might want to…’ = ‘Just fucking do…’
Careful-Set1485@reddit
Eating the cunt out of a flying monkey?
WOL1978@reddit
I think you should give this some more thought = That’s a terrible idea. Drop it and stop wasting everyone’s time.
DenryuRocket110@reddit
Whenever an application crashes or my computer just decides to blue screen.
I say "It fell over."
Don't ask me how I crafted this but it makes sense to me.
la_vida_yoda@reddit
Wow. Tone is everything:
Robbo1979psr@reddit
"alright mate?"
No, do not tell me if you are ok, or not. Just say hello and bugger off
PrimaryChance0@reddit
I once overheard a British ski instructor greeting his Canadian colleague with ‘here he is! who let you out?’ and it didn’t appear to land at all
DaysyFields@reddit
I damaged my exhaust on a sleeping policeman.
FunBat6170@reddit
Not bad means it’s actually quite good.
Moppo_@reddit
Apparently in America "quite good" is only a little good. But here it's extremrly good, but we feel uncomfortable expressing American levels of enthusiasm.
MoodyMango4880@reddit
I’ve always thought the opposite. When I say something is quite good, I mean it was ok, satisfactory. My American colleagues take it mean really good.
ceehred@reddit
"I'm pulling your leg..."
No-Country4319@reddit
"Y'alright?" - they seem to think we are genuinely asking if they are ok, like we think there is something wrong. My ex was so confused that this was just a greeting & no answer is actually expected a lot of the time.
CharmingSwing1366@reddit
‘you alright?’ is basically just a greeting
Awkward-Panda-@reddit
"Are you taking the piss?"
BillyBatts83@reddit
"It's looking a bit sorry for itself."
My Latin wife fully squinted her eyes at that one. I was referring to a piece of old garden furniture that was on it's last legs.
"But why do you turn it into a person, that feels bad? Why say this?"
TurbulentLeg1084@reddit
Haha, never even thought about this one being strange.
I’ve seen “not looking too clever” completely stump people before as well.
1kBabyOilBottles@reddit
When I first moved to the UK I got asked by a person “are you okay?” And I responded “No actually I’m a bit sad” they had no idea how to respond. I was so embarrassed lmao
Nervous_Tourist_8699@reddit
“that is a unique position” means “you are an idiot”
rocking_womble@reddit
"You must come and see me if you're ever in town..."
No, we never want to see you again, EVER.
JohnCasey3306@reddit
"sorry"
...no, we're not actually apologising.
Rob81196@reddit
“Ah you were in Paris, how did you find that” “what do you mean, I went on a plane?”
Florae128@reddit
"When it is convenient"
If you start getting politer emails, good chance someone is getting increasingly pissed off and wants something doing right now, not when you feel like it.
Smantie@reddit
'Dear x,
As per our previous email, we would be grateful if you could please kindly [completely reasonable and very simple thing which would take them less than ten fucking minutes if they would just get off their arse and do it] at your earliest convenience, thank you.
Regards,'
Bonus points if you send it as a reply to your previous email(s), and of course the previous emails have to follow the sign off route of Many thanks -> Kind regards -> Regards.
purplewaterbottle123@reddit
Polite pleasantries. I come from a much more direct culture and I find it hard that people just don't say what they actually mean
Pigflap_Batterbox@reddit
Pull your socks up!
Imaginary_Coat_2638@reddit
It’s coming home
Brilliant_Choices@reddit
If a Brit tells you they are "not too bad" at something, they might actually be a world-class expert. Bragging is generally considered "poor form," so they hide their talent behind modesty.
Puzzleheaded_Turn887@reddit
Could do - this deffo means they don’t want to and won’t.
TJTheree@reddit
My Mrs is awful for this one, if she says “could do” I know we’re gonna be doing anything but what I just suggested lmao
Puzzleheaded_Turn887@reddit
Lmao 🤣 my sister is the same. I even tell her stop that just say yes or no, but she can’t.
ExpensiveNut@reddit
A very good friend of mine is Filipino and we were dating for a while. When planning calls, I'd often say I'd be ready "in a bit." I thought that Filipino timekeeping would give me a lot of flexibility with that phrase.
Turned out it confused him a lot of times until I had to give him a brief crash course in British understatement lmao
WorriedHelicopter764@reddit
Say "you alright" to someone new to the UK... It makes them very anxious 😃
blamordeganis@reddit
Similarly to “not bad”, “quite good” can mean anything from “absolutely top tier” to “utter dogshit”.
Majick_L@reddit
When I say “cheers” to my overseas friends online they often reply with “cheers to you aswell 🍻” etc thinking I’m doing a toast to them instead of saying thanks lol
oriwillow@reddit
Not foreigner… but I was on the toilet and my three year old said he needed the toilet. Dad said in jest to go and “kick me off”… so he came and kicked me 😅
SmugMiddleClarse@reddit
I could murder a pint/fag (double issue there) etc
holhaspower@reddit
Said “what you saying?” when I first met my American flatmate in uni and she got scared and said “I didn’t say anything”
Paperopiero@reddit
You're a very passionate Italian: they really meant that I'm a complete fool. I realised it many years later
UltimateT1tan@reddit
I once worked with a Polish dude, he didn't understand the phrase sausage "hello sausage" It would always confuse him
Trying to explain the phrase to him was near impossible
Sad-Nectarine-7855@reddit
"How are you" as a greeting. End up in a fucking 40 minute conversation about how they are.
nabster1973@reddit
It’s coming home.
Every single one fails to see the irony of that lyric from the song, “Three Lions”.
Hertfordgal@reddit
Ello Love
WallflowerWhitler@reddit
Used to work with a guy from Libya, he married a British woman. She used ‘no shit Sherlock’ to reply sarcastically. He couldn’t understand why Sherlock had no shit.
Bossman_Mike@reddit
"Well indeed" means shut up, I'm not listening anymore.
TobsterVictorSierra@reddit
I work with Germans. Absolutely everything.
tacetmusic@reddit
"He's taking the piss"
Endless_road@reddit
I heard a story that during the war British solders were surrounded and called their American counterparts and told them it was getting “a bit sticky”. The Americans not knowing any better just assumed that meant it wasn’t great but it wasn’t bad.
dominicgrimes@reddit
In Korea, the Glorious Gloucesters
SilverellaUK@reddit
Brigadier Tom Brodie 1951 Korea - 600- 700 British v 3000 Chinese.
Logical_Bake_3108@reddit
Foreigners (especially Americans) tend to think asking someone "alright?" means you actually want to know if they're alright 😅
kickadoodle@reddit
In a bit of a pickle, Can range in meaning from im late for my train to my leg has fallen off and im slowly losing consciousness.
EmuComprehensive8200@reddit
Not a phrase but using the "c" word 😅. Obviously it's not something just dropped casually unless you're in the right company, and yeah it's pretty immature to swear so flippantly generally but I find people not from the UK feel its waaaaay harsher when they hear that word.
Balthierlives@reddit
You alright?
tomtink1@reddit
"All good fun!" is what I say when I have had a really challenging day.
LittleMissLyra@reddit
It's fine. If someone says it's fine, it's really NOT fine.
Strange_Dog@reddit
It’s coming home
clark196@reddit
You alright?
Only_Tip9560@reddit
"That's interesting" - no it isn't
There is also one that doesn't get taken seriously enough:
"Oh by the way" - this is actually the main point of our conversation and it is probably me telling you something that you are doing is really getting on my tits so I have needed to warm up to this with the previous chitchat.
ExtremeWash9630@reddit
dammit i thought i was being sneaky doing that i didn’t realise it’s universal
Estrellathestarfish@reddit
Or something incredibly significant is happening to the person. By the way, I'm getting divorced/moving to Australia/declaring bankruptcy.
Grunn84@reddit
Related terms are "while I've got you" or "as you are here"
mongrelnomad@reddit
In the same vein:
“Sorry” =/= sorry “Sorry” = Fuck you
Trev_GFC@reddit
‘Football’s Coming Home’
Maximus-Clueless@reddit
“It’s one of them init.” Could be a minor inconvenience or a traumatic upheaval of someone’s life
brushfuse@reddit
Shit on a shingle. Spotted dick. There are many others that will get you banned on Reddit.
neverendum@reddit
"I''m not too bad at ...", if they're British that normally translates to being zen level at something. I'm in Australia and if someone tells me they're really good at something, I'm side-eyeing them until I see evidence.
Spottyjamie@reddit
Ive heard a few foreign accents order small pints as opposed to half pints
Super-Surround-4347@reddit
'Yeah we must do lunch one time.'
anarchtea@reddit
Minus this one time that I'm counting as lunch even though it was a two minute chat at 10am.
BiscuitsAndMilk0@reddit
Similar to what you said: decent.
We say that as like an overly positive thing sometimes when really it should mean perfect average.
BarSalt970@reddit
You alright?
0nce-Was-N0t@reddit
I'm alright, are you alright?
BarSalt970@reddit
Yes, why?
CompleteBanter@reddit
“Hows it going?” (Meaning, how are you doing?)
HOW’S WHAT GOING?!
-You_Cant_Stop_Me-@reddit
"It", right there in the question!
Mean-Aside1970@reddit
I've been in England too long hahahah I thought this was universally accepted as 'how you doing'
-Londoneer-@reddit
The important thing is the tone.
Not bad can be the whole spectrum from amazing to awful.
0nce-Was-N0t@reddit
How are you doing.
".... [sigh]... not too bad" 😔
"Yea... not bad at all" 😁😁😁
Green_Penalty_4049@reddit
When you’re asked are you alright as a way of saying hello. When people ask me if I’m alright in the US is because they’re asking me if something is wrong because I look upset lol
bitterswallow@reddit
im afraid
Spodger1@reddit
"Bob's your uncle" is not us saying they have an uncle called Bob.
See also "fuck off" being an adjective to mean absolutely massive, rather than us suddenly being hostile or having Tourette's.
arturoui@reddit
Tom McCallum made the effort to list them with translations https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/mRq1PTH4r7
Charlie_Yu@reddit
I took everything too literally. Said the same phrases as well and it confused my British friends
mushylilpea@reddit
I used to live with a Romanian couple, just the 3 of us, and once referred to myself as their third wheel... Didn't go down well as it was interpreted as a sexual thing
Heeberon@reddit
Where do you stay/where are you staying/where you from/where do you live?
Used to confuse Americans with variations of these all the time (accidentally).
Trans: where is your current hometown or district/name of the hotel you are currently in/where did you grow up/where is your current town
SmokyBarnable01@reddit
Work with a French bloke. The word 'terrible' causes immense confusion.
Ulyxzes@reddit
“You Alright?” As a greeting catches a lot of nationalities out
goddessadmirer69@reddit
Got the time on ya, cock ?
teadrinker_uk@reddit
I said “not my cup of tea” at a fish dish at a work dinner and my Italian colleague was so confused 😂
zokkozokko@reddit
A mate said his friend from Eastern Europe was complaining about something work related to a Northern colleague who rolled his eyes and responded "tell me about it" -so he proceeded to tell him all about it in great detail before having the expression explained to him.
Sea-Mongoose2924@reddit
The difference between "let's meet up" versus "we must meet up". The first is usually sincere, but the second is something you say when you see someone that you probably don't want to see again.
GiovanniVanBroekhoes@reddit
Keep his/her/their nose to the grindstone.
Fufflewaffle@reddit
When I lived in Connecticut I used to greet people with "you alright?". I had to stop doing that because every time without fail they'd say "yes, why? Do I look upset? Are you alright?" Ect
Potential_Answer6424@reddit
See you next Tuesday (C U N T)
SimulacRumInate@reddit
Quite.
Sure-Butterscotch290@reddit
Saying ‘that’s not ideal’ when something has seriously gone wrong, usually with a deep intake of breath to prevent yourself from losing your shit
Crafty_Reflection410@reddit
“How come?”
To mean: what do you mean/give me more information.
GiovanniVanBroekhoes@reddit
"You alright?" or "Alright?" and other variations.
Fucked-to-fit@reddit
There’s this guy on YouTube who goes onto Omegle or whatever it’s called and posts the conversation and a British girl told him to stop taking the piss and his reaction was “hey I don’t want to take anyone’s piss” 😂
now when he posts anything the comments say “he’s taking her piss”
effie_95@reddit
Using 'festive' to refer to festivities generally (for example, a wedding) when Brits generally only use it in relation to Christmas. I love it though, more things should be festive!
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Someone walks in wet and you say "raining?"
Only makes sense to British people.
sunnivapeach@reddit
"Could do" meaning "I really really don't want to, no."
YahYahPapaya@reddit
See you later! 👋🏼
The earnest response I got from someone was "no. No you won't".
I also think she didn't like me. But I'm putting it down to a lost in translation moment. My ego couldn't take such a brutal take down.
campbelljac92@reddit
"Yeah I'm alright"
Silver-Arm@reddit
I lead workshops where the customers quite often need to leave promptly for whatever they have booked next.
I often ask "what time do you need to escape?" instead of saying " what time do you need to leave?"
In my mind "what time do you need to leave?" sounds like I've already had enough of them. In my foreign colleague's opinion "escape" makes it sound like my workshop will be horrible.
Academic-Jackfruit-2@reddit
Fu off you ct usually means I like you, you’re alright.
Celebration_Dapper@reddit
"With all due respect ..."
GreenWoodDragon@reddit
Burn... incoming
MartynBdoink@reddit
"I'm going to see a man about a dog" - I'm off to the pub
MadWifeUK@reddit
"I will yeah" means I definitely won't.
daintyladyfingers@reddit
"I was getting to that just now"
You were hoping I'd forgotten
brumav78@reddit
"We'll see..."
yuzusnail@reddit
not sure if this is British specific, but online I'll say something to someone like "we can't do that I'm afraid" and a surprising amount of times I've had replies like "why are you afraid" ToT
Sea-Still5427@reddit
Sorry. It rarely means you actually feel sorry.
perhapsflorence@reddit
"All right?"
We usually address people with an "all right?" to mean "hello" but some people take it literally and respond with how they're doing instead of just an "all right!" back. They need only respond with the same word, and the faster the better!
Person 1: "All righ--"
Person 2 (jumping in): "ALL RIGHT!"
MixPlus@reddit
You must come and stay over some time (never come near my house).
FloydEGag@reddit
Sorry about that - we’re not sorry at all.
Actually sorry in general can mean anything from a genuine heartfelt apology to a curse on all your descendants. Will you know where along the spectrum the sorry addressed to you lies? Probably not, half the time we don’t know either
Far_Camel_5098@reddit
https://youtu.be/kAln0n12kI8?si=9tr2yrYZagmM2YLc
migrainedujour@reddit
Every last one of them. Which is a problem.
Microwave-Dave@reddit
Alright?
Triggers many Americans.
Sensitive-Fishing-64@reddit
"let's meet up soon"
Translation.... Don't call me me
DeeplyCooked@reddit
"could be worse" usually in response to asking how someone is. Sounds very morbid but actually is quite a chipper response
MysteriousFan7983@reddit
How are you/how you doing/are you okay. Any variant of this where it means hi
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
I saw an instagram posts filled with comments about Americans learning what “take the piss” means the other week. That was eye opening & hilarious lol
Several-berries@reddit
Saying “How are you” to a Dane you have just met. The Dane will think you are being very forward, and then feel pressured to tell about their toothache or something.
Informal-Scientist57@reddit
I’m born and raised in Scotland. Also autistic so I’m learning a lot from this thread, all at the ripe age of 30.
FlippedHope@reddit
That was an interesting idea = I'll shelve that one and never give it a moment's thought.
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
foreigner (also southerners lol): hello me: yalreet, gets cut off them: goes onto story about their day & telling me how they are 🤣
like mate we didn’t get to that bit yet lol
PositiveTemporary977@reddit
I will think about it, fuckoff back down your hole you gremlin
Few_Expression_3262@reddit
Any kind of sarcastic humour or irony lol, Americans especially are guilty of this lol
Comprehensive_Cut437@reddit
Pop a baby into bed
girlsunderpressure@reddit
"You alright?"
Common-Locksmith7715@reddit
“You alright”, sounds like you care but actually you don’t
informutationstation@reddit
'It's fine'
SaltyName8341@reddit
Ey-up
Pizzagoessplat@reddit
"How are you"
UnderstandingLow5979@reddit
"I can't do that, I'm afraid" "why are they afraid? Did I scare them?"
N4t3ski@reddit
We're afraid your reaction to 'no' might be unhinged and lacking in decorum.
possumsr4eva@reddit
“Maybe” means no
ajh489@reddit
Interesting.
Sufficient_Range4466@reddit
Bottle of water
Terrible-Bad-9002@reddit
How am ya bert?
Key-Character-8702@reddit
I'll think about it, actually that's a quite no lol
Chopsticks_Charlie@reddit
You alright?
Dry-Machine-2012@reddit
“Are you mad??” “No”?? 🙂🙂🙂
DeemonPankaik@reddit
"you alright"
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