Let's hear your opinion about this.
Say you're checking out somewhere and the cashier asks if you want to buy this or that or donate to a particular cause. You say, "That's okay, thanks."
What did you just mean?
1. That's okay, you would love to donate/buy stuff. (Yes!)
2. That's okay, you do not want to donate/buy stuff today. (In other words, no. But you want to be polite and not say that word.)
3. It's okay that you are holding this promotion. Thanks for doing that! (Haven't answered your question yet, but I'm making chit-chat.)
And in your comment, let me know where you grew up and if this is a saying you've ever used. I'm curious! Thanks! :)
I sometimes give them some money or say no depending on the cause.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard this comment used I grew up in Sydney Australia.
Merle..........
Thanks, Merle! I give sometimes, too, but almost NEVER when I am directly asked. Maybe a cultural thing. I spent just under three years in Aus. but grew up mostly on the East Coast of the US.
DeleteI don't think I've ever heard this reply. When asked, I usually just say, "No thank you." I grew up in southern West Virginia and still live here.
ReplyDeleteWest Virginia! My mom was born there. But. She says things like, "That's okay, thanks" as a reply. How strange!
DeleteI think "that's Ok, thanks" means no- thank you. I always say "not today"... cuz you can't seem to make any purchase without being solicited these days.... one day a year, I go ahead and give something.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Although I'm a little less generous than the once a year. I want giving to be from ME, not because I got cornered into it, yk?
DeleteOut here most people will just say a straight yes or no, some will ask how do I do that, meaning do they pay separately or with the rest of their goods.
ReplyDeleteI would assume "that's okay thanks" means No.
It isn't something I've heard here in Australia.
Yep. "That's ok, thanks!" means NO. Maybe it is an old-fashioned thing, not wanting to say that word precisely.
DeleteI assumed #2. I tend to say, "No, thank you," "No, thanks," or, "Nope (with a smile)."
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Southern California and Colorado.
~Luke
Yup. It means "nope." :)
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