... British people use the word "quite" to mean "a little bit"? I had totally missed this. :Dhttps://twitter.com/alexjpollard/status/1261205554036342784 …
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Replying to @xuenay
Yeah but also we use understatement for emphasis so sometimes something is quite good because it's ok and sometimes it's quite good because it's amazing. British English is a tonal language
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Replying to @DRMacIver @xuenay
See also "not bad", which can mean either "meh" or "holy shit that's impressive".
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Replying to @pozorvlak @xuenay
Or "well done" meaning "good job" or "you idiot"
2 replies 0 retweets 3 likes -
I can't quite imagine using "well done" unironically. Maybe "really well done" or "genuinely well done". If I were sincere I'd say "nice work" or "I'm impressed" or something.
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It works sincerely (insofar as anything said in an English accent works sincerely) if you put the emphasis on the second word, same as "quite good". Oh *well* done = you idiot Oh well *done* = wow good job
3 replies 2 retweets 6 likes
fucking hell why is language such a mess i mean yeah theres all the layers of signalling and countersignalling and intentional obfuscation of meaning that are actually useful but christ
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Replying to @imhinesmi @ciphergoth and
Politeness norms are the continuation of dueling by other means
0 replies 1 retweet 4 likesThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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