'cheers' and 'mate'

[rich p]

I used to see a rep once a year for an exhibition and he called me 'geezer' all the time. The following year I (and everyone else) became 'bloke'.

As in, "Wotcha bloke, how's it hanging?)

 

[TVC]

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?

Tiger

 

[tyred]

I do find myself saying "cheers" when the word I really want is "thanks". It annoys me that I do this but can't seem to drop it. I don't think I've ever called anyone "mate."

 

[col]

I do find myself saying "cheers" when the word I really want is "thanks". It annoys me that I do this but can't seem to drop it. I don't think I've ever called anyone "mate."

I have, but he was my mate

 

[yello]

It's not just me. It seems that everyone from children to grannies is at it now, and in my heart of hearts I know that it is ultimately worse than swearing or using the word 'nice'.

That's the way to do it chap.

My 3rd form English teacher said she hated the word nice but it always seemed to me that she was just repeating something rather than it being anything she actually believed. Maybe her lecturer at university said it.

I do use nice myself but for me it conveys a genuine appreciation of something that someone's done, particularly if there's something ingenious about it; a clever and neat solution to a problem.

I love language and I like people that can be creative with it. You don't need to reach for the thesaurus to write, just let if flow. Your own mind is going to sound genuine and fresh. It's bound to. Nobody has the same one!

But let us not forget that language is a tool for communication too. Don't be hard on 'cheers' and 'mate'. They serve a purpose. I've used 'mate' a couple of times myself... usually to placate! 'Cheers' I use a lot; interchangeably with 'thanks'. I didn't use to though, I'd never heard it used like that until I came to the UK. It's very natural and normal for people to adopt the speech of others, especially when you're the outsider or want to become friendly. Linguists call it 'accommodation'....innit.

 

[Headgardener]

Working as I do in the NHS as a porter everybody is refered to as "sir" or "madam" on first time meeting, no matter how far up or down the evolotionary scale they are.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I use "mate", "boss", "cheers" and so forth all the time. Like riddling every sentence with expletives, it's standard practice in the haulage industry.

 

[swee'pea99]

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?"

Friend in America with his elderly mum. Checkout girl: 'Have a nice day'. Friend's mum: 'I'm sorry, dear?' CG: 'I said have a nice day - are you DEAF?'

 

[yello]

and 'Have a nice life'??

 

[swee'pea99]

I really loath over-familiarity. I think of myself as pretty easy-going, but when cold-callers address me on first-name terms I can feel my hackles rising. As Bloodnok said on The Goons when a jailer called him 'scum', 'Mister scum to you.'

 

[ChrisKH]

"Cheers", "mate" and "love" are common currency in my neck of the woods but I would never use them at work, for example. I do use them though, usually to get people onside who I wouldn't ordinarily converse or socialise with. There is a social aspect to it, which I would find hard to explain without sounding like a complete snob (or nob for that matter).

 

[BSA]

I use 'Mate' far too much and I hate myself for it. When trying to get someones attention for example 'Excuse me' I add the mate 'Excuse me mate'.

If i just say 'excuse me' it sounds cold to me or even rude. Maybe I need to replace mate with sir or madam but I dont like that either.

I'm open to suggestions.. maybe I should just grunt!

 

[col]

We were told at work last week we couldnt address anyone with love or flower ect which some do, as it could offend.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I've just used called the last 3 people 'mate' that I've spoken to on the phone and I blame this thread for it!

 

[Globalti]

In Geordieland everybody is PET.