Americanisms

[St-KriS]

Name some American Phrases or words that really bug ya.



"******g A" <--- What the hell does that mean?!

 

[Bee]

"Have a nice day". Arrrrgggh, it annoys the crap out of me!

 

[El Scorcho]

Anything that comes out of John Howards mouth

 

[vanders]

Have a nice day? what's so bad about that?

 

[carn_the_nmfc]

Enjoy

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by vanders
Have a nice day? what's so bad about that?

Because most people who utter it don't really mean it. It's just a mechanical action that has been drilled into them. It's fake and insincere.

 

[Wicked Lester]

Originally posted by Bee
Because most people who utter it don't really mean it. It's just a mechanical action that has been drilled into them. It's fake and insincere.

But is it?

Is 'thankyou' which is drilled into us from an early age as the right thing to say also fake? I admit to saying it automatically and often without thinking so by your definition a standard 'thankyou' is fake and insincere as well.

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by Wicked Lester
But is it?

Is 'thankyou' which is drilled into us from an early age as the right thing to say also fake? I admit to saying it automatically and often without thinking so by your definition a standard 'thankyou' is fake and insincere as well.

No, not at all. "Have a nice day", is an Americanism. Thank you and please are just good manners. I say thank you and please all the time. But I never say "have a nice day", unless I am being sarcastic!
I hate the phrase. And if that add the word "maam" after it, it's even worse!

 

[Wicked Lester]

Originally posted by Bee
No, not at all. "Have a nice day", is an Americanism. Thank you and please are just good manners. I say thank you and please all the time. But I never say "have a nice day", unless I am being sarcastic!
I hate the phrase. And if that add the word "maam" after it, it's even worse!

You've missed the point completely. Yes of course it is an Americansism - wasn't disputing that.

The criticism made by Bee of 'have a nice day' was that it had been drilled into people - they say it automatically - hence it must be fake and insincere.

I suggested that 'thankyou' is also drilled into us from an early age. Many people say it automatically. Using the same rationale saying 'thankyou' must therefore be fake and insincere also.

But of course this is nonsense - in my view saying 'thankyou' and saying 'have a nice day' are both just polite. 'Have a nice day' is as you quite rightly point out an Americanism and quite a polite one at that. To hate it with such passion simply betrays your own prejudices.

 

[Syd]

Have a nice day is viewed as an insincere or automated greeting?????

Wonder where "G'day" rates on the scale then?

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by Wicked Lester
You've missed the point completely. Yes of course it is an Americansism - wasn't disputing that.

The criticism made by Bee of 'have a nice day' was that it had been drilled into people - they say it automatically - hence it must be fake and insincere.

I suggested that 'thankyou' is also drilled into us from an early age. Many people say it automatically. Using the same rationale saying 'thankyou' must therefore be fake and insincere also.

But of course this is nonsense - in my view saying 'thankyou' and saying 'have a nice day' are both just polite. 'Have a nice day' is as you quite rightly point out an Americanism and quite a polite one at that. To hate it with such passion simply betrays your own prejudices.

Well that's your view and you are entitled to it. As I am entitled to believe that "Have a nice day" is full or crap! Someone asked me what Americanisms bugged me. I answered. I am sorry you can't accept my opinion. It ****s me to tears. I don't like it, but unfortunately I don't have much of a choice but to put up with it. Because it seems it has been programmed in to all shop assistants.
My opinion, okay? Now you have a nice day, won't you!

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by Syd
Have a nice day is viewed as an insincere or automated greeting?????

Wonder where "G'day" rates on the scale then?

Do most Australians actually still say "G'day"? I don't think I've heard that for a long time.

BTW "Syd" welcome to Big Footy. This is your first post, isn't it?

 

[Wicked Lester]

Originally posted by Bee
Do most Australians actually still say "G'day"? I don't think I've heard that for a long time.

I do. In fact I'll even admit to regularly saying 'have a good one' to taxi drivers or the bloke at the corner store etc.

But then clearly I'm being insincere and fake. Or is it only Americans who can be insincere and fake?

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by Wicked Lester
Or is it only Americans who can be insincere and fake?

Americans? Hardly, it's said by every Australian who stands behind a shop counter! I may be cynical, but I genuinely hate the phrase.

 

[Syd]

Yes Bee, I'm brand new.

And Lester I've got a foot in each camp as I am in fact American (although I thought genuinely sincere) and also got naturalised as an Aussie 3 years ago.

So therefore I can't see the problem with "Americanisms" as there are a few doozies here to!

 

[Wicked Lester]

Originally posted by Syd
Yes Bee, I'm brand new.

And Lester I've got a foot in each camp as I am in fact American (although I thought genuinely sincere) and also got naturalised as an Aussie 3 years ago.

So therefore I can't see the problem with "Americanisms" as there are a few doozies here to!

Syd

I have no issue with a thread on Amercianisms either. There are many, just as many cultures have there own peculiar sayings. Bring on more - they are quite amusing.

I simply couldn't fathom what was so offensive about 'have a nice day' and questioned the logic in Bee's criticism on that particular 'Americanism'.

 

[Syd]

Yeah Lester, I get more commetns on explaining the attraction of baseball than language!

My personal least favourite expression is actually Australian!

And thats after spending 1/2 my life in the USA and 2 1/2 years in Europe before moving here in '85 so I've heard a few!

 

[15_hours_behind]

you wana come with?

This may be either an Americanism or a Chicago-area-ism:
"I'm going to the Dominicks, you wanna come with?"
A bit of translation:
Chicago has two major supermarket chains: Jewel & Dominicks.
The natives never refer to going to Jewel without adding the article "the" before the noun. It's also typical to drop the pronoun after "with".
[Sorry folks, I'm forever haunted by the Lingusitics 101 course I took in Grad School]
Here's another example of the pronoun dropping. I was at a trade show, and a sales representative said to me "Here's our products list, take this with."
Interesting thing: the guy was selling English as a Second Language Textbooks! Hmmmmm....

 

[Syd]

Geez 15 I forgot that we can actually be that specific!

You are right we didn't say "we are going to the grocery store" (ie supermarket) we did name the one we were going to!

Guess I've been gone longer than I thought!!

(Better here anyways.... NO SNOW!)

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by Wicked Lester
.

I simply couldn't fathom what was so offensive about 'have a nice day' and questioned the logic in Bee's criticism on that particular 'Americanism'.

Okay, then maybe this will explain it clearer. It seems I am not alone in my opinion.

Meaning
A salutation, ostensibly to offer good wishes. In fact a banal and insincere form of words given to anyone and everyone. Evidence of the meaninglessness of the sentiment is the fact that it is even used last thing at night when the opportunity to have a nice day has all but disappeared.
Origin
US origin - around 1970s.

 

[15_hours_behind]

Originally posted by Syd
Yeah Lester, I get more commetns on explaining the attraction of baseball than language!

And speaking of which, we Americans must either confuse/annoy everyone else by demanding someone "step up to the plate"
when we want someone to take the inititative.
I mean,do people in Cricket playing countries demand that someone "Get in front of the wickets?"

 

[Syd]

So Bee

Do you object more to the insincerity (or perceived insincerity) or the American association to the statement?

Does the phrase "Good Day" mean that you wish someone to have a good day, or that whether or not they want it to be it is a good day or is that a polite way to end a sentance before walking off (If you are English).

Very hair splitting......

I wonder what your least favourite Australian expression is now......

 

[Syd]

Well done 15!

That one is well lost in its origin, but actually quite universal in its application i've found!

Much clearer than this pommie "sticky wicket" stuff

 

[Squeak]

"Write me", as opposed to "write to me".

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by Syd
So Bee

Do you object more to the insincerity (or perceived insincerity) or the American association to the statement?

Does the phrase "Good Day" mean that you wish someone to have a good day, or that whether or not they want it to be it is a good day or is that a polite way to end a sentance before walking off (If you are English).

Very hair splitting......

I wonder what your least favourite Australian expression is now......

Actually the Australian term, "G'day" simply means hello.

For the last time, I think the phrase "have a nice day" is insincere, because it is said without meaning. If anyone who said it meant it, why would they say it to you late at night? The bloody day has gone. Or perhaps they mean it for the next day!