# Alternatives to "thank you" and "you're welcome"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571 "2009-07-28T18:26:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/21 "2009-07-29T16:25:37Z")
I’ll take “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” for $200, Alex. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/22 "2009-07-29T16:30:07Z")
I use “much obliged”, even though I don’t have a “howdy, ma’am” kind of accent. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/23 "2009-07-29T16:33:35Z")
[Boom shanka](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0752255/quotes) works for me. Or, to translate, “may the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman.” ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/24 "2009-07-29T16:39:08Z")
Not just ‘ta’, but ‘ta, much’ is used over here a lot… Cheers for now, Meurglys ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/25 "2009-07-29T17:52:19Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > Not just ‘ta’, but ‘ta, much’ is used over here a lot… > > Cheers for now, > Meurglys Lawrence: No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you’d get your ass kicked for saying something like that, man. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/26 "2009-07-29T19:08:53Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > People _do_ use thank you too much and I wish they’d cool it. Whenever you hear a guest on the radio or TV, when it’s time for them to leave and the jost says “Thank you for joining us today,” the guest invariably replies, “Thank _you_.” I guess they mean “Thank you for having me” but what’s wrong with “You’re welcome”? This practice used to me nuts (which is admittedly a short trip 😃 ). NPR shows do this all the time. I used to say to myself, “Why is Host X thanking Reporter Y just for doing his/her job? Why is Reporter Y thanking Host X, as if the airtime was a gift bestowed upon Reporter Y by Host X?” I don’t do that anymore. Much. Anyway, IMHO, when Host X says, “Thank you”, Reporter X should say, “My pleasure.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/27 "2009-07-29T19:14:25Z")
**Smash** , you make your life way too hard, dude. ETA: I like saying “obliged” or “much obliged” myself Or saying it in other languages, if I have reason to believe the other person will know what the Zeus I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/28 "2009-07-29T19:18:02Z")
“It’s about time!” and “Took you long enough” work for me. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/29 "2009-07-29T19:20:51Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > “It’s about time!” and “Took you long enough” work for me. It’s supposed to be “It’s about _goddamn_ time.” ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/30 "2009-07-29T19:25:41Z")
“Ta” and “cheers” strike me as being too flippant. And “obliged” carries a certain level of hostility, as in, “You have gained face at my expense, and now I feel the unwanted need to perform an equal task to relieve myself of the moral responsibility I now bear toward you.” ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/31 "2009-07-29T19:26:41Z")
> [@whole\_bean](#): > > Lawrence: No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you’d get your ass kicked for saying something like that, man. Fuckin’ A man. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/32 "2009-07-29T19:43:32Z")
Good lookin’ out, bruh! Ain’t no thang but a chicken wang! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/33 "2009-07-29T19:45:42Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > “Ta” and “cheers” strike me as being too flippant. And “obliged” carries a certain level of hostility, as in, “You have gained face at my expense, and now I feel the unwanted need to perform an equal task to relieve myself of the moral responsibility I now bear toward you.” Seriously, dude, you are putting too much thought into this. If you continue I will have no choice but to teleport you a fifth a jack, a bag of weed, and a dozen hookerbots to get you to loosen up. The meaning of a word is not merely a function of its etymology. “Obliged” is merely an informal or regional equivalent to “thank you.” ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/34 "2009-07-29T20:11:56Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > People _do_ use thank you too much and I wish they’d cool it. Whenever you hear a guest on the radio or TV, when it’s time for them to leave and the jost says “Thank you for joining us today,” the guest invariably replies, “Thank _you_.” I guess they mean “Thank you for having me” but what’s wrong with “You’re welcome”? Saying “you’re welcome” as a response to “thank you for coming on the show” carries with it a connotation of, “you’re so lucky to have me here because I am so awesome.” Another “thank you” in response, OTOH, connotes “I appreciate the honor of being asked to participate in your program.” ---
**Author:** ![StinkyBurrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@StinkyBurrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StinkyBurrito)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/35 "2009-07-29T20:42:45Z")
> [@whole\_bean](#): > > Lawrence: No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you’d get your ass kicked for saying something like that, man. It sounds like somebody has a case of the Mondays! Sometimes I use different languages, such and merci or domo arrigato or gracias etc. (I don’t know if I spelled those right.) ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/36 "2009-07-29T22:05:46Z")
I appreciate it / no problem. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/37 "2009-07-29T23:15:16Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Seriously, dude, you are putting too much thought into this. If you continue I will have no choice but to teleport you a fifth a jack, a bag of weed, and a dozen hookerbots to get you to loosen up. I’ve been meaning to mention to you how very, very tense I’ve been lately. Much obliged, dude. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/38 "2009-07-30T00:08:07Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > I’ll start with an anecdote which may prove instructive. > > Years ago, I decided that I used the phrase “thank you” too much. I’d say it without even thinking about it, as nothing more than social lubricant. In an effect to make myself more mindful and to express genuine gratitude, I decided to replace “thank you” with an entirely different phrase which would force me to be conscious of when I used it. To that end, I decided on the phrase: “May your tribe increase.” I first encountered the phrase in the poem [Abou Ben Adhem](http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/153.html) and, after some research, found that it was a traditional form of well-wishing in India. > > Things went well at first. I felt self-conscious using this phrase, but then, that was the point. I got some strange looks, but I was pleased that I used the phrase infrequently, and only when I felt genuinely thankful. > > Then one day at the supermarket I used the expression on a cashier… who happened to be black. She was furious and ended up throwing my change at me. > > After that I switched back to “thank you.” > > So, my question is, has anyone else tried this? Can anyone think of better expressions not quite so likely to cause offence, which can replace “thank you” and “you’re welcome” in our daily lives? I use “I appreciate it” for “thank you” quite often, and “Sure” for “you’re welcome.” Were you surprised at the cashier’s reaction? Nothing in your post suggests you were, but if you weren’t, why would you say something like that knowing there was an excellent chance that it would be taken the wrong way? ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/39 "2009-07-30T00:36:30Z")
I was going to say that Have a great day! might work. But frankly, I don’t think that people say thank you enough. I like the social lubricant. As you’re noticing, if people say nothing, there’s a weird awkward silence and someone will say something. I’d prefer the something be something pretty standard and nice and not something weird and forced. When I go to a cashier, I’d rather (s)he say thank you when (s)he hands me my receipt (to show that (s)he’s representing the store and they thank me for being a customer) than the response I’ve gotten lately of cashier giving me my receipt and saying, ‘here you go.’ Here you go is not social lubricant. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571/40 "2009-07-30T01:06:47Z")
May your tribe increase? What the heck? How can you possibly have thought that would be well-recieved by the cashier at the Shop Rite? > [@SmashTheState](#): > > Can anyone think of better expressions not quite so likely to cause offence, which can replace “thank you” and “you’re welcome” in our daily lives? How about “thanks” and “'welcome.” Seriously, dude. You try WAY too hard to be different. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-thank-you-and-youre-welcome/504571.md?page=3)