'cheers' and 'mate'

[Keith Oates]

I use cheers quite often but mate to me means a very good friend and I tend to use that word sparingly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[zimzum42]

I cannot tolerate being called 'Fella' or 'Pal', it comes across as so insincere....

 

[Aperitif]

Quite right Keith. I don't like being called 'mate' by spotty oiks in Dixons.

Cheers, Morate.

 

[Andy in Sig]

I was got addressed as "geezer" by that bloke in the white dress who ran the Muslim literature stand near Edgeware tube station (I believe he later got banged up for planning something naughty) which caused me to raise my eyebrow, and I meant it!

 

[dan_bo]

I'd rather be 'mate' than nob-end, truth be told.

 

[Auntie Helen]

I've noticed a tendency among people to call me 'mate' over the last few years. Somehow I tend to think it's a term for a chap rather than a lady. I don't object to it at all, I think it imparts some sort of acceptance when said by a friend (although when said by a stranger it's a bit random), but I do find it odd if it's said by someone not from the Estuary English catchment area as I think of it as more a London word.

 

[Moose]

I use both 'cheers' and 'mate' all the time and had be come concious of it as well, but I can't seem to break it. Tried 'buddy', 'bud' and 'pal' but they all sound too insincere when you use them all the time. I'm now trying to refrain from using these terms when talking to someone I know.

 

[jay clock]

My daughters give me major grief when I use the M word in a Mockney accent (I am normally quite posh) in communication with lorry drivers, plumbers and the like......

I do use the C word very often.

Cheers mate!

 

[Globalti]

Over-effusive thanks drive me mad: "Yeah, cheers, fanks mate!" when all I've done is hold a door for someone.

Over-familiar call centre staff who call me mate - I once concluded a conversation with one by saying: "...and another thing: I'm not your mate, I'm a CUSTOMER!"

Waiters and people in business meetings who call other people "Guys". I was in a meeting with one of our UK reps and he kept calling the customers "guys". I could see them bristling.

If I want to address somebody I don't know, in a pub for example, I sometimes call them Chief. Otherwise, especially with export customers it's Sir or Madam or Haji until I know their names.

 

[Dave Davenport]

I use mate a lot 'cause I'm rubbish at remembering peoples names.

In my youth 'mush' was widely used, but you don't here it at all these days.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Over-effusive thanks drive me mad: "Yeah, cheers, fanks mate!" when all I've done is hold a door for someone.

Over-familiar call centre staff who call me mate - I once concluded a conversation with one by saying: "...and another thing: I'm not your mate, I'm a CUSTOMER!"

Waiters and people in business meetings who call other people "Guys". I was in a meeting with one of our UK reps and he kept calling the customers "guys". I could see them bristling.

If I want to address somebody I don't know, in a pub for example, I sometimes call them Chief. Otherwise, especially with export customers it's Sir or Madam or Haji until I know their names.

In a similar vein but slightly off topic, I hate it when you go in a shop and the prat greets you with "How are you today?" to which the only answer I give is, "Same as yesterday, why do you want to know?"

 

[Bodhbh]

Yeah I'm the same, always had an aversion to 'mate' remember hating it at school, all the fake pallyness. Never minded a lass calling me 'luv' or 'dear' or any of that tho, whatever's going on there.

Mentioning overpally people in shops...dunno if anyones taken out a loan or other credit lately. When I was a student, you'd have to talk to a Bank Manager - usually a fairly stern authoriterian figure who'd warn you of the danagers and try and talk you out of it. Now you phone up, get some silly chav half your age who calls you mate and cracks some chummy jokes, he punches in some details, computers sez yes, and 2mins later you get 10 grand. No wonder people get in trouble with these safeguards, next you know the balliffs are at the door, no friendly chav about at this point (not that this has happened to me!!).

 

[TVC]

I've never thought that mate sounds right coming from a woman, it always seemed like a very male word.

I've got this habit of addressing barmen or guys on tillls in shops as 'boss', I picked this up from a work collegue mate, and have never been able to shake it off.

Cheers Boss!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Pal's the one I really dislike - it always comes over as a bit snotty or aggressive. Cheers and mate are always insincere - nothing quite the same as a thank you is there?

 

[summerdays]

I don't use the cheers mate expression but agree with others on here that I think its more of a male thing... that so there must be something else I use instead and I can't think what it would be?