# Leave it with me (a common british phrase) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 28, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811 "2023-11-28T14:17:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/61 "2023-11-29T17:42:56Z")
Fair enough. Since I said Melbourne Australia where AFAIK there’s only the one, I was being irresonponsibly redundant. I have been asked (in the UK) if I meant the tiny Melbourne (never been there so dunno if it’s good) near Nottingham or the one in Florida. And I currently live in a town in Dorset that is named the same as one in Kent - and having lived in one and been to both I can definitely say the other one is the “good” one. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/62 "2023-11-29T17:44:08Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I always talk about “[los ˈaŋxeles]”, even in English… I do that sometimes. Or I say the entire name of the city. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/63 "2023-11-29T19:46:04Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > I have been asked (in the UK) if I meant the tiny Melbourne (never been there so dunno if it’s good) near Nottingham I used to live near the Melbourne in Cambridgeshire. Tiny and very nice ! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/64 "2023-11-29T23:09:04Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > “leave it to me” That’s the version I’m familiar with as an American. Often said as, “Just leave it to me.” Another way of saying, “I’ll take care of it.” ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/65 "2023-11-29T23:12:07Z")
_She said to leave it to me_ _Everything will be alright_ _She said to leave it to meeee_ /The Cars Yeah that’s 100% a recognized American phrase. Isn’t English beautiful? I love all these little idiomatic expressions. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/66 "2023-11-30T09:03:55Z")
‘Leave it with me’ has always to me just been a way to say ‘You have described the task; I now have enough information to proceed’. Whether or not the task gets done is more of a measure of the person supposedly doing the work - it’s nothing much to do with the phrase. I can understand how it might be frustrating to be told ‘leave it with me’ only to return and find the job not even started; that would be the same if the person had said “OK, I will definitely do it, right away!”, and not completed the task either. People seeking to hand over a task sometimes have a tendency to want to describe the problem over and over at length, especially if they are consulting or commissioning an expert; ‘leave it with me’ is a polite way for the assignee of the task to say ‘OK, you can stop talking now and allow me get started with it, which I would like to do now’ ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/67 "2023-11-30T10:02:54Z")
I think that Americans are unused to being polite - especially to shop assistants. From films and TV, I see that “please” and “thank you” are not used at all. A few years ago, when I was staying in a Parisian hotel, I was talking to an American couple in the bar. She complained bitterly about the “rude” and “ignorant” assistants in stores, where she was trying to take advantage of a good exchange rate to stock up on fashionable clothes. I suggested that she try saying “Bonjour Madame" when she approached the (notoriously snooty) sales staff. The following evening, she thanked me and expressed he surprise at the difference in attitude. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/68 "2023-11-30T11:42:56Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Isn’t English beautiful? Nitpick - it’s _Aren’t_ English beautiful? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/69 "2023-11-30T14:43:22Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Often said as, “Just leave it to me.” > > Another way of saying, “I’ll take care of it.” Indeed. And if whatever task or whatever is actually completed there are many ways of saying “Thanks” My frustration with the phrase is all too often (I don’t have recorded stats) even if it’s said earnestly, whatever it is you are leaving with someone doesn’t happen. I mentioned upthread about Simon the foreman who’s been oversseeing work on this apartment building telling us “leave it with me” regarding the poor wifi signal and last week he’s wiring us up with Cat 6 ethernet. Simon is a “leave it with me” kind of guy. Two Friday’s ago his assistant - a very nice guy (chap?) - was shown how the shower curtain had been jammed into a 45 degree wall and comes crashing down if you breathe upon it. He even took pictures and said “Leave it with me”. We’re only staying here short-term and my best tools are in storage yet everyday at least once I’m putting that thing back up (it’s a multi-room shared shower). It’s down right now and I’ll tack it back up as best as I can when I take a shower. So those are the tangible stats then: one of two “leave it with me” folks. In my experience there are far and few between actual “leave it with me” people. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/70 "2023-11-30T14:46:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > ‘Leave it with me’ has always to me just been a way to say ‘You have described the task; I now have enough information to proceed’. Yes that’s exactly how I understand (and use) it ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/71 "2023-11-30T15:05:19Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Yes that’s exactly how I understand (and use) it Then you are, as no mobster likely ever said: > You’re gonna like this guy, he’s all right. He’s a goodfella. He’s one of us.” And I fixed that shower curtain rod up again pretty securely. No chin-ups but it’ll be good for at least the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/72 "2023-11-30T15:15:06Z")
I think you have a Simon problem, not a ‘leave it with me’ problem. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/73 "2023-11-30T17:15:10Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > > Isn’t English beautiful? > > Nitpick - it’s _Aren’t_ English beautiful? “Amn’t English is beautiful?” ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/74 "2023-12-01T01:40:47Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > [@pjd](#): > > > > > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > > > > Isn’t English beautiful? > > > > Nitpick - it’s _Aren’t_ English beautiful? > > "Amn’t English is beautiful? “Ain’t Murican purty?” ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/75 "2023-12-01T20:05:01Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > BTW there is also a (less common? more common?) variant: “leave it to me” In British idiom, I would say these are rather different. “Leave it to me” means, yes, I’ll take care of that. “Leave it with me”, on the other hand, means I’m going to have to investigate a bit, I’ll get back to you when I know more. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/76 "2023-12-01T20:53:04Z")
I was going to say that I’ve never encountered the specific phrasing “Leave it with me.” Then yesterday, I was watching an episode of _Midsomer Murders_, and Inspector Barnaby (the second, fake one, not the original, true one) told his wife, who was freaking out over some local village festival thing, “Leave it with me.” Probably wouldn’t even have noticed it if not for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/77 "2023-12-01T21:06:24Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > You mean the city block, right, mate? Same goes for Scousers. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/78 "2023-12-01T23:52:25Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The original pronunciation in Spanish What Spanish? The word comes via Portuguese, where it’s pronounced zhagwar, and originated from an Old Tupí word pronounced yagwara. There’s nothing un-English about the consonant sequence /gw/ between vowels, as seen in native English words like bigwig or hog-wild. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/79 "2023-12-02T00:02:21Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > What Spanish? The word comes via Portuguese, where it’s pronounced zhagwar, and originated from an Old Tupí word pronounced yagwara. Yes, my bad. I was going by a source I can’t find anymore (fuck it anyway) that had clearly bullshit info. You’re absolutely right. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811/80 "2023-12-02T02:56:00Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > > [@Atamasama](#): > > > > The original pronunciation in Spanish > > What Spanish? The word comes via Portuguese, where it’s pronounced zhagwar, and originated from an Old Tupí word pronounced yagwara. > > There’s nothing un-English about the consonant sequence /gw/ between vowels, as seen in native English words like bigwig or hog-wild True, but the Brits insert an intrusive vowel (what my Linguistics 101 prof taught me was called a svarabhakti) between the /g/ and the /w/: _jag-yoo-ar_. It’s not a schwa, either, but a stressed long _u._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leave-it-with-me-a-common-british-phrase/993811.md?page=5)