Can I get?

baggs

If I ask for, say, a latte (I don't say "can I get?" so don't worry) and someone replies cheerfully with "no problem" I 'translate' it into what it does mean, which is something like "I will cheerfully get you a latte; that's what I'm here to do so it's no problem".

Surely anyone who isn't a grumpy old sod does that? It really isn't Pollyanna-ish, just un-grumpy during casual interactions and not harbouring resentment afterwards.

Ooh, look what I just found at myenglishteacher.eu:

‘No problem’ is quite an informal way of saying ‘you’re welcome’.

It could also mean ‘yes, I can do it’, and is seen as a way of saying ‘This is easy, I can do it, and it doesn’t pose any problems’. Another way this could be said is, in response to

Another way this could be said is, in response to expression of regret, or gratitude when no thanks, or apology is necessary.

Example 1: “Could you help me with

“Could you help me with this please?” “Sure, no problem”
Example 2:

“Thank you for helping yesterday” “It was no problem at all”
I have listed some more below, and labelled them ‘I’ or ‘F’ to signify formal and informal expressions:-

You’re welcome (F)
Sure thing (I)
No worries (I)
Cool (I)
It’s all gravy (I)
Certainly (F)
Of course (F)
That’s absolutely fine (F)
Don’t mention it (F/I)
It’s nothing (I/F)
No probs (I)
You’re very welcome (F/I)
It’s my pleasure (F)
No sweat (I)
Now try to use a different one each day, so you get to practise different ways of saying ‘no problem’, every time!!

———

See! It isn't just me.

?

I must ask DD what she teaches her students in the way of colloquialisms.

probably " its all gravy"

What gets me is the usage of trucks instead of lorries and cinema now shows movies instead of films. Has anyone heard "may I have" being used instead of "give me or I want"lately. There is a definite move to demanding instead of requesting nowadays.

The one that is driving me to distraction is the word like. A perfectly acceptable word, except when people put it into a sentence every other word. It’s like driving me like sort of like crazy!!

It's all gravy! Never heard of that one.

Thanks for that clarification, Baggs.

Surely anyone who isn't a grumpy old sod does that? It really isn't Pollyanna-ish, just un-grumpy during casual interactions and not harbouring resentment afterwards.

I think you are reading too much into it Baggs. I am not a grumpy old women and I don't harbour resentment, but I do a lot of internal eye rolling when everywhere I go, and spend money, the people paid to serve me tell me I am "No problem". It's become very common.

I fully understand the meaning of "no problem" but I'd rather they didn't convey that my being there and needing them (to do their job) had somehow been a problem but <shrug> "We coped"

I wonder if their vocabulary extends to "You're welcome". Oh and don't get me started on being greeted as "Guys" when we enter restaurants. We pushed the boat out recently and went somewhere that was (or used to be) quite exclusive for our friends' ruby wedding celebrations.

"What can I get you guys" was all very friendly when ordering but I did wonder if formality and polite, unobtrusive service is a thing of the past? We might as well have been at TGIs. I wouldn't have been a bit surprised if the waiters had served the food whilst blowing whistles, honking horns and twanging their braces.

Basically drives me nuts, basically

At the end of the day, its basically no problem.

I'm not reading too much into anything. What I'm doing is not minding common, casual, informal expressions.

And saying so.

What I dislike is negativity. This thread is full of it.

Y'all have a nice day, now! ?

I'm prepared to retract my bunch of grumpy old women remark because I'm sure most of you are not usually grumpy old women, but the complaints on this thread are classic grumpy old person complaints against something harmless that generally younger people are doing.

I'm sorry you feel that way Toddleo I love to hear Americanism's. Get over it and learn to enjoy other people's language. Jalima1108, I didn't even realise there was a pedants corner.

When I retired as a teacher, on my leaving card were the words: NO PROBLEM!

It appears that no matter what I was asked to do, I would say, " Of course, no problem.." ?

Oh dear! When my ‘kids’ text me asking for help I often text back ‘NP’.

think we’ve had threads denigrating the use of the words ‘kids’ before now ??

To me it's the double negative = positive, of 'no problem' that I'm not keen on. It confuses my brain.
Just like "You're not wrong." which I think is an Australian term.

What about there you go?! Arghhhhh

Just listening to the Minister for prisons, Rory Stewart, speaking on Radio 4. Every single sentence began with "So.......". Why???? It's so annoying!

Oh I've got another one!!! " a thing" as in......I didn't know serving sliced melon in a drink was a thing.

Also it seems to be a trend to use 'ing' as in 'I'm loving that photo' instead of 'I love it'.

My husband talks in double negatives all the time FarNorth it drives me mad. Not sure if its NFN
( normal for Norfolk)
Why do people complain about pedantry on Pedants corner?
it's a mystery.

I’ve just seen a lovely one in my local bank.
They had raised over £5000 for cancer research, and had received a letter of appreciation from an august personage titled the ‘Thanking co-ordinator’!
Not sure where that strange expression came from, but it sounds so cold and really rather unthankful.
Oh, I do enjoy being a pedant. A good moan is very gratifying, and cheering!

Youse GNetters should be counting your blessings to be able to get somebody to engage with your banter! I have this affliction of becoming invisible whenever I enter a shop or restaurant. At the 1st. hurdle; "please wait here to be seated", where "wait" should be in capitals; unless there are some leaflets to wave for attention, it takes for ever to get to the food stage.
Waiters go scurrying past my table, and it takes several strident calls of "Excuse me" before they realise someone is there. And so on and so forth!
Some shops are no better. They used to have little bells on the counter which you were invited to ring for attention, but they appear to be out of favour nowadays, probably too many Master/ Servant connotations and noise abatement regs.
So! Enjoy your banter whilst you've still got someone's ear to bend!