US Phrases That Annoy Brits

"Happy Holidays", and "Have a nice day," irksome Americanisms
By Victoria Floethe,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 27, 2008 6:50 PM CST
US Phrases That Annoy Brits
George Bernard Shaw said that the US and the UK are "two nations divided by a common language."

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")

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