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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 OPINION 
14

US Phrases That Annoy Brits

"Happy Holidays", and "Have a nice day," irksome Americanisms

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(Newser) – Toby Harnden must live among Yanks in his job as a correspondent for the UK's Telegraph, and sometimes American phrases drive him nuts. Here are his worst offenders:

  • Happy holidays (just say Christmas, please)
  • Have a nice day (make it stop)
  • You're welcome (this one's just "Pavlovian" to him)

  • Do the math (equivalent of "work it out yourself, stupid," he explains to fellow Brits)
  • How are you today? (as if anybody truly cares)
  • Good luck with that (he translates it as "you have no chance")
  • Oh my gosh (fear of blasphemy, he guesses)
  • Not so much (he takes it to mean "you're completely wrong")

George Bernard Shaw said that the US and the UK are
George Bernard Shaw said that the US and the UK are "two nations divided by a common language."
Victoria Pendleton holds up the British flag after celebrating her victory in the Women's Sprint cycle race in March. Have a nice day, Victoria.
Victoria Pendleton holds up the British flag after celebrating her victory in the Women's Sprint cycle race in March. Have a nice day, Victoria.   (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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14 comments
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Reader69
Dec 27, 08 11:24 PM CST
Ultra-yawn. No zingers, here. Better luck next time, Toby. Reply
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JimH
Dec 28, 08 5:25 AM CST
Ignorant ranting... Is this the best of his efforts??? Most annoying British phrase? "I'm sorry!" parrotted endlessly by the rudest people on earth as you are being elbowed, trampled, pushed and pummeled whilst attempting to board the tube. Reply
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Thinker
Dec 28, 08 9:16 AM CST
He forgot "bless you" when someone sneezes (absolutely mindless). Reply
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Garibaldi
Dec 28, 08 10:40 AM CST
As far as I'm concerned, any attempt to bridge the yawning chasm between people in this culture is better than none. Everyone can make lists of annoying conversation fillers. Toby will need a couple of years before he gets to: D'oh!, Hello?, What the f***?! I give him high marks for paying attention. I always thought the Brit-ism: "not half bad" was a real knee-slapper... Reply
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morenogabr
Dec 28, 08 8:57 PM CST
Well, as an American, Ive got a characteristic about Brits that bugs me: their arrogance. I guess you cant blame this Toby guy though, its kind of stylish and cute to make fun of Americans right now. As if we're all dumbasses or something. A**hole! Reply
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