amerifat here with a question for brits. visited some family in the UK once and got taken out for dinner at a british pub. but then when we were eating one of the serving staff dropped a glass and everybody around stopped to turn around and shout "WAY" or something all at the same time. when I asked about it my aunt said it's traditional to do this whenever anyone drops a glass or plates or whatever. wasn't sure I believed her but I just saw a clip with stephen fry where he mentions the same thing. wtf is this and what exactly are they shouting, is it just "WAY" or did I get the word wrong and what does it mean?
also I guess general thread for discussing weird customs observed when visiting other countries and hopefully we can all give each other explanations.
brit here. Yeah it's a thing, I find it one of the better things about living here. Not sure how it started but most people tend to be on board with the whole thing, in a friendly way and it's definitely not malicious. it's more like "whaaaay you dickhead"
I suppose it's kind of acceptance for doing something stupid
also, where did you visit? And do you not have anything similar in America?
>>23101136
Not OP, but it depends.
If it does happen, especially at a restaurant with a bar a lot of people clap or cheer. But they do it to be assholes, not in friendly jest.
>>23100890
It's just friendly banter. Happens all the time, even in labs when people fuck up
>>23101434
Kraut here, we do that too. Literally YAYing and WOOHOOing and clapping and whatnot.
Obviously not in a "fine dining" type of restaurant, but in pubs and bars, yea sure.
Part of it probably (at least for me and I guess me mates) is the relief that someone else dun it first - because when you're innapub, of course you're going to drop something sometimes, just a matter of probability and how drunk you are.
>>23101131
This
>>23101434
Not this. It's in a friendly manner
>>23100890
Can confirm that >>23101131 is pretty much spot on.
>>23100890
Essentially means they're mocking your fuck up, but it's not serious. Just a bit of banter.
I'd say it's a combination of whaaay and hooraaaay, which basically just comes out as a low "aaaaayyy".
Just banter to embarrass the person who did it but in a friendly way.
Ausfag here.
After working with an old brit supervisor for the last two years, I still don't understand brit humour.
>>23100890
Britfag here. This is friendly banter meant to mock the person fucking up. You hear it a lot when people mess up in general, especially during football matches etc. Couldnt tell you why its thwt noise but its all in good fun reslly
Why do americans say 'i could care less' when talking about something they dont give a shit about?
Surely the expression should be 'i COULDN'T care less'?
>>23105474
The expression actually is 'couldn't care less' but people don't know how to speak without fucking everything up
>>23105474
Grammar Nazis correct us about this all the time
Are all Italian guys really extreme flirts?I've met one in Europe once, and he was a huuuge flirt
>>23106645
WRONG!
"I could care less" is an idiom. And it means whatever the fuck both parties understand it to mean.
>>23106890
You're an idiom, anon
we do this in greek restaurants
OOOOOPPPPPPPPPPAHHHHHHHHHHHH
im moving to the states in a few months and after visiting a number of times, theres still one or two things im not sure on
What is an appropriate amount to tip a waiter?
How and when should i tip a barman?
If im at a coffee shop and the guy in front buys mine for me and tells me to pay it forward, should i buy coffee for the next person in line or can i do this anytime?
I typically wear quite slim-fitting clothes (male) and ive noticed americans typically do not. Any particular reason behind this?
