Brit has warning for any foreigners visiting UK about common question that doesn’t mean what you think it does
A common British question can be misinterpreted easily
Brits have warned anyone coming to the UK of one common phrase that could easily be misinterpreted to mean something else.
The English language is full of complexities, I mean take there/their/they're...is THERE really any need?!
Of course there is, but it doesn't make learning the language any less difficult for those looking to come over to the UK.
Our silly little phrases and idioms only really make sense with a bit of context - imagine hearing 'it's raining cats and dogs' without any knowledge of what that means.
Advert
But a far more common question that Brits use daily has been brought to the attention of people visiting the UK, because it doesn't really mean what is implied.
Users on Reddit found that the phrase 'you alright?', is actually much more of a greeting than it is a question.
If someone asked 'you alright?', and you suddenly went into how traumatic your week had been, the other person would probably be quite confused.
Maybe we're all just compulsive liars in the UK, who like to crack on like everything is OK with a simple 'good, you?'.
One user noted: "If someone greets you with 'hey how are you?' it’s not an invitation to tell them how you are physically/mentally.
"It’s purely a greeting and the correct response is 'good, mate, you?' then you carry on with your conversation."
One person replied, saying: "As someone neurodiverse I have only just learned this at nearly 50 years old and I cringe a bit when remembering past conversations."
But this phrase isn't the only social cue Brits are obsessed with using.
Another user said: "Brits often use subtle hints to end conversations, like 'Right, I should probably let you get on' or 'Well, I’ll leave you to it.'
"That’s usually a cue for you to gracefully wrap up the conversation without dragging them on.
"In general though, Brits have mastered the art of indirect communication.
"There are so many more examples of this but it’s quite nuanced and just something that will take time to pick up!"
Another British tradition is queuing - we love a queue.
One person joked 'there's an art to it'.
Another user also noted: "Saying 'sorry' frequently is more of an expression of politeness rather than an actual apology for specific wrongdoing."
Mia Williams