# Do Brits really say 'I say. . . ?'

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-brits-really-say-i-say/39255
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 1, 2000, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-brits-really-say-i-say/39255 "2000-11-01T16:18:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2000, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-brits-really-say-i-say/39255/1 "2000-11-01T16:18:03Z")

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Or is this just another movie contrivance?

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### Author: ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-brits-really-say-i-say/39255/2 "2000-11-01T16:27:33Z")

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It is an affectation of the upper classes. The rest of us just say “bloody hell…” or simmilar.

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### Author: ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2000, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-brits-really-say-i-say/39255/3 "2000-11-01T16:32:43Z")

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I have heard upper middle-class people over the age of 55 say it on occasion and younger people might use it ironically, but the short answer is, not any more.