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Why do people say...

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
Why do people say 'i'm afraid'? As in, 'do you have this?', 'no we don't, i'm afraid'.

I say it at work all the time and its so stupid but i dont why i say it.

Anyone?

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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Because "afraid" means more than just being scared - it can also refer to regret, concern, and dislike. :)
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hah, I say that at work all the time too. I personally blame the supermarkets though, because I've only started using that phrase since I started working in one! I think it might have something to do with you not wanting to upset someone by not being able to provide it? Or you actually are afraid of their reaction to you not being able to provide it, because some customers do take extreme reactions to products being out of stock...
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Here, as usual it's far better than me... :)

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/afraid
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    2. feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like: I'm afraid we can't go on Monday

    Oh i see. Just always seemed weird to me thats all
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Lexi99 wrote: »
    always seemed weird to me thats all

    Not as weird as 'having your cake and eat it'. Like its a bad thing?

    WTF is THAT all about??? If I did have any cake, of course I'd f***in' eat it! :)

    English is a weird language!
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Teagan wrote: »
    Not as weird as 'having your cake and eat it'. Like its a bad thing?

    WTF is THAT all about??? If I did have any cake, of course I'd f***in' eat it! :)

    English is a weird language!

    Lol that means you can't eat your cake and then still expect to have it (as in it be there for you to eat again!).

    It doesn't make it clear though, just sounds like if you have cake you're not allowed to eat it :grump:
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    alaska91 wrote: »
    Or you actually are afraid of their reaction to you not being able to provide it, because some customers do take extreme reactions to products being out of stock...

    :lol:
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Lexi99 wrote: »
    I say it at work all the time and its so stupid but i dont why i say it.
    Probably because this is one of those things that seems to be drilled into your head in so many different areas of work. For example, if someone enters the over-18s area in our arcade and can't show any ID, I have to ask them to leave. People generally react better to "I'm sorry, but by law, I have to ask you to leave this area" than "Well then, no ID, no entry. Get out of here", don't they?
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I hate the saying "you'll catch your death of cold" as if an ice cube is going to coming running down the road and you're going to catch it! And you can't "catch" death or cold either. It just annoys me. I mean, catching is like catching an object that's physically there. I just hate that saying.
    C-A x
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    crying-angel wrote: »
    I hate the saying "you'll catch your death of cold"

    I haven't heard of that one. :confused:
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    crying-angel wrote: »
    And you can't "catch" death or cold either.

    But you could catch a cold which might lead to death ;)
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    crying-angel wrote: »
    I hate the saying "you'll catch your death of cold" as if an ice cube is going to coming running down the road and you're going to catch it! And you can't "catch" death or cold either. It just annoys me. I mean, catching is like catching an object that's physically there. I just hate that saying.
    C-A x

    But cold can lead to hypothermia, which does indeed kill... ;)

    Try "that's a different kettle of fish" instead... :)
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Teagan wrote: »
    Not as weird as 'having your cake and eat it'. Like its a bad thing?

    WTF is THAT all about??? If I did have any cake, of course I'd f***in' eat it! :)

    English is a weird language!

    :lol: i always thought that! cake isnt bad :thumb:
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    kangoo wrote: »
    Lol that means you can't eat your cake and then still expect to have it (as in it be there for you to eat again!).

    It doesn't make it clear though, just sounds like if you have cake you're not allowed to eat it :grump:

    Aahhh, that makes sense now!

    Wouldn't that be great, everlasting gobstopper, but cake.
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    Indrid ColdIndrid Cold Posts: 16,688 Skive's The Limit
    Teagan wrote: »
    Not as weird as 'having your cake and eat it'. Like its a bad thing?

    WTF is THAT all about??? If I did have any cake, of course I'd f***in' eat it! :)

    English is a weird language!
    A similar saying here is "Having a whole pie and a full dog". But of course you can feed the dog other things than pie...
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    .... I've never heard that one! haha x
    C-A
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