Posted by John Lambert on May 23, 2003 at 16:14:35 from 24.84.34.215 user John.
In Reply to: Horns posted by John Nichols on May 22, 2003 at 19:05:41:
"I should also have mentioned that Americans tend not to respond well to understated praise, perhaps because (just between us) they have a tendency toward overstatement."
John Nichols, I agree with you. Supermarket cashiers used to say, "Thank you. Good-bye." Then that developed into, "Thank you. Have a good day." Now it's, "Thanks. Have a GREAT day."
I was in an American restaurant a couple of years ago and when the waitress asked me if the meal was all right, I answered, "Not bad." She seemed taken aback and said, "Only not bad?" Since then I have listened to the comments of American diners when asked the same question. "Great!" "Terrific!" "Sensational!" are some of the more frequent replies. I wonder what they would say if they had a really terrific or sensational meal.
By the way, I think this website is OK.
John