Not to want to be blessed all the time

Janea, no response would be needed, apart from a smile, perhaps.

The transaction's been completed, the person who's provided the service/assistance has been thanked, why prolong the exchange?

Agree ashtree, people used to thank me when I was working and I usually responded with 'you're welcome' as indeed they were, and no one seemed to mind being told that!

I don't particularly like it - bless, I mean - but it is a comparatively recent use of the word, so what did we say in the past? Oh how sweet? I'm not sure I said that either. Any ideas? Is it just a lazy way of reducing a multitude of compliments down to one phrase. It can be used when you would have said:

- What a pretty baby
- What a kind thing to do
- you've dropped your bag; let me help you

etc., etc. Yes, I think it's annoying because it's lazy but it does serve a purpose.

As you say GT depends on context.
Sometimes 'no problem' is quite appropriate - at 5'9" I'm often asked by shorter people to reach for things for them from upper supermarket shelves. Sometimes I even anticipate their difficulty and offer before I'm asked - it literally isn't a problem.
If someone's thanking me for hospitality I would probably say 'My pleasure' or 'it's a pleasure to see you' because I really do enjoy cooking for people and seeing them.
But a standard response in English is sadly lacking and often there's something awkward about it.
My study of Cantonese did not progress very far, but I liked the response they use - 'thank you' is 'm'goi leh' answered by 'm'sai' ( no need) - simple and to the point!

Good question, janea. I would say "you're welcome" because I have no objection to that phrase at all. I don't honestly know why it upsets some people and I'm hoping someone will enlighten me as to why it is incorrect in this situation.

....or checkout man ! My preferred response is "you're welcome".

It's no easy in German, Italian, Spanish , French - all have a fixed response - bitte schon, prego, de nada , de rien. Sounds nice but just as meaningless - a pleasantly. We have to stumble around finding something and it chsnges over time. Some staff are trained in a certsin way, some are free to say what they feel is OK. I thought what do I say if I'm thanked - well context is everything but I have a range of phrases- it's a pleasure, glad I could help, you're very welcome , no problem , anything else I can do. What do you say when thanked? Nothing?

So, when you have thanked someone for a small service like checking out your groceries, or doing your nails, or receiving payment for petrol, what should the person say in reply?
'That's ok'? (A bit ungracious)
'You're welcome' (already been objected to)
'My pleasure' (a bit gushing)
'Glad to have been of service' (a bit undemocratic)
'Have a nice day'(a bit transatlantic, even if sincerely meant)

So....if you were the checkout woman, and a customer thanked you, what would you say in reply?

One of my sons always says "see you later" when he leaves here, even though we know it`ll be at least a week before we see him again.

That phrase drives me mad!
I'm never sure if it will actually mean what is said or not , especially if there is the likelihood of it happening.

I bought something from a retail outlet today and after I'd paid, been given the receipt and thanked the assistant, she said 'See you later!'.

I totally agree, I love listening to it although I can barely speak it.

Somehow though, Prego sounds better. Actually, anything in Italian sounds better ( especially when it's murmured!)

In Italy if you thank someone for anything they will always say "prego"which basically means "You're welcome" you can get through and awful lot of pregos during a supermarket shop! Presumably a lot of Europeans expect us to have the same sort of etiquette.

Haha Apricot, you really should say that next time and see the response!

Another checkout one - "Enjoy the rest of your day". I know the staff are told to say these inane things but I want to reply, "I'm going to a funeral".

The one I dislike is ''I feel so blessed''

When I was a child I was given the explanation of ''Bless you'' when someone sneezed. It was to stop the devil from entering your body. Which apparently was possible when you sneezed!. Catholic guilt.

Don't mind oh bless you,but awww bless,I hate it makes me cringe.

And "you're welcome" especially favoured by non-native speakers and sometimes used most inappropriately such as when they give you change and you say thank you. They then say "you're welcome".

And what's all this with 'no problem'? It seems as though all (young) shop staff seem to say it whatever the situation and however inappropriate a response it is!

In AD 590 Pope Gregory during the Plague ordered prayers for anyone sneezing so that they would be blessed by divine intervention as sneezing was one of the first signs that they had caught the Plague. There are historical reasons.

We said thank you to the young check out assistant in a local store the other day as she gave us our change, to which she replied, "No worries". As we walked out, my husband muttered, "what makes her think I've got no worries?"

www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/up-the-wooden-hill-to-bedfordshire.html
Apparently it was a twee middle class expression of the 1930s and 40s. As my parents were neither twee nor middle class I doubt this origin. However, there was a Vera Lyne song which quoted it, so maybe it came from that. Oh I love a good Google

We went up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire too Jingle. When I moved to Bedfordshire when I was married, it seemed an unlikely place to live.

I'm not surprised it's disputed. Sneezing doesn't seem to have been a major symptom of the Plague.