Igualmente

[laepelba]

Uyyy ... we use "nice" all the time. Malila - it can continue to be your favorite adjective. The only thing that we Yanks don't use it for is food. We don't typically say "that sandwich was nice". Ugh!

I say "Have a nice day" when it's better than saying nothing at all. Like to the clerk at the grocery store. And I always make sure that I put as much sincerity into it as I possibly can.

I wouldn't have ANY problem with the following conversation:

- My favorite colleague in the room next door: "Hey, Lou Ann, I'm on my way out."
- Lou Ann: "Hey you, have a nice day!" (Or afternoon, or evening, or whatever)
- Colleague: "You too!"
And we both keep smiling even after she steps out.

Yep. It's fine here on the other side of the Pond.

I suppose we could say "likewise", but that would sound quite stuffy....

Some things that I would consider equivalent to "Have a nice day":
- Have a nice afternoon/evening/morning/weekend.
- Have fun with your guests this weekend.
- Enjoy that surprise party you aren't supposed to know about tomorrow.
- Have a blast at the *theme park* tomorrow.

I guess any comment that is future-looking would be appropriate....

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Thank you, Lou Ann, I feel relieved.

"Igualmente" is a very common expression for Spanish speakers, I think... It's considered impolite to just say "gracias" or nothing at all when someone wishes something nice to you, even if it's just an artificial sentence (like the clerk at the store).

[Sancho Panther]

I read on another forum that a fellow limey who visits the States regularly sometimes responds to "Have a nice day" with "Thank you, but I'll have whatever kind of day I want!". It appears droll in print, but I think it's rude even by my curmudgeonly standards!

[poli]

Just be British and say "quite nice" and you'll impress the cashier.

[Sancho Panther]

Thinking about it I suppose I could always respond to "Take care now", with "OK, what extra precautions should I adopt, beyond normal common sense?". Now that I might just employ!

[poli]

Perfect or should I say brilliant. We use the take care platitude too, but so far brilliant hasn't reached out shores. I think awesome muscles
it out.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Well, I guess if one says "likewise" or "you too" to a cashier, it will be evil enough without having to be rude, as it's rather sarcastic... nobody dealing with so many people every day can actually have a nice day.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by poli

Just be British and say "quite nice" and you'll impress the cashier.

In reply to what? It makes sense as an answer to "How was your day?" but isn't the context here the cashier wishing you "Have a nice day!"?

Originally Posted by Sancho Panther

I read on another forum that a fellow limey who visits the States regularly sometimes responds to "Have a nice day" with "Thank you, but I'll have whatever kind of day I want!". It appears droll in print, but I think it's rude even by my curmudgeonly standards!

Concur, although a witty cashier could reply "Suit yourself!"

Originally Posted by Sancho Panther

Thinking about it I suppose I could always respond to "Take care now", with "OK, what extra precautions should I adopt, beyond normal common sense?". Now that I might just employ!

How about asking why and throwing out a bizarre scenario? "Why, is the zombie apocalypse overdue?" "Why, are Martians invading?" "Why, is John Prescott out canvassing?"

[Elaina]

Ay, ay, ay tanto humo para tan poca lumbre.

It's only a phrase that is used quite commonly but I don't think it really means anything to the majority that say it..... a simple "thanks" will do.

There are snobs on the other side as there are here!

You know what they say.........."cuando en Roma, haz como los Romanos"

[irmamar]

I don't know all the British or American rules of politeness, and I'm glad to know that a simple 'Thanks' would be enough. But here if you wouldn't answer "Igualmente", a simple "Gracias" would sound much more less polite (just half polite ). That's why I asked.

Thanks.

[laepelba]

Here in the US, I really think that the bottom line is the tone and look on the person's face. When it's someone I don't know (clerk at the grocery store, etc.), I always try to look them in the eye and make sure I give them a most genuine smile and say "Have a nice day!" Often I find that the other person's expression will change (pleasantly) and they'll respond (genuinely) with "You, too!"

I've been thinking about this discussion a lot. I think it really is a cultural thing. I have often noticed that (again, here in the US) African American people will greet each other (perfect strangers walking down the street) with "Hello, how are you?", very genuinely and will answer each other (remember, perfect strangers). I have several African American friends who I notice do this ... but they only greet other African Americans like that. It's never that I feel that they're ignoring non-African Americans. Just that it's part of their culture to greet each other like that ... and that the rest of us probably don't understand. I rarely greet people I don't know on the street ... it's part of the "stranger danger" that is built into my thinking. But I often think how much nicer it is for my African American friends to greet complete strangers.....

When I was in Argentina, if I interacted with someone I didn't know (a waitress in a café, a clerk in a shop, cab driver, etc.), on my way out of the place, I would always say "buen día" and it would always receive a pleasant response (I can't say that I really typically understood what the response was....).

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

(I can't say that I really typically understood what the response was....).

No creo que fuera nada malo.