All right?
Posted by Cottontimer on 14 Oct 2006 | Tagged as: Knick Knacks, London
This question for Philip Howard of The Times Modern Times reminded me of my previous investigation into the derivation of OK.
As a recent arrival in the UK, I have noticed that it is common practice to greet people with the phrase ?all right?? as opposed to ?how are you??. What is the appropriate response to this greeting? ~Daniel O?Neill, London
This conventional greeting is, as you observe, a recent formula. The apparent inquiry after your wellbeing is not forensic. It is a category mistake to reply with a description of your haemorrhoids. ?All right?? is brisk and breezy, appropriate for our casual times. You may reply, ?OK, thank-you?, or ?Frittermywig?. I tend to say, ?So far, so good?.
The first time I was asked “All right?” by one of the other mothers, I was taken by surprise and didn’t quite know how to answer. Now I say “All right?” myself. It’s sure to throw some people off the next time I visit California.
PS A book that might address my perpetual confusion: Bum Bags and Fanny Packs : A British-American American-British Dictionary.
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As a native Londoner, I have to confess to being continually perplexed with the greeting “Alright?” and have never found a response that I feel entirely comfortable with, although I am tempted by the suggested “Frittermywig”. Frankly I think they should produce a British-English, English-British dictionary to help poor confused souls like me.
angelfeet: Hi and welcome! Let me know how people react when you decide to respond with “frittermywig.” hehee
Makes me think of Harry Potter at the end of Sorcerer’s Stone:
Harry: Alright Ron?
Ron: Alright. You?
Harry: Alright. Hermione?
Hermione: Never better.
Or something along those lines.