blonde poker forum

If you worked in a service environment, say as a barman, and a customer said;

"Can I get a Vodka Red Bull ? "

How would you respond ?

I've spent a few hours on this and have over 72 responses prepared in case this situation ever presents itself.

My personal choice so far would be to put on my best whiney American accent, smile only between chin & nostrils, and say;

"Sure, you have a nice day, bubbaay" and then walk off to the other end of the bar.

sigh just when your posting had been so so good lately...

Can I add to this.

People who when asked a question, pause..... small breath...... "so..........ok............"

Very unnecessary!

"My boss wouldn't be too thrilled if you got it, but I can get it for you."

I don't get it. That is exacty how I order a drink. Are you saying the barman should just tell me gtfo.

Probably wonder why i spent a few hours thinking about it.

Are you American?

I would be dying to give Nirvana's response as I hate American language creeping into ours. Don't even get me started on the word 'level' that gets used on here a lot now.  >:(

Nope. I  say " alright mate, can I get a pint of Stella...cheers"

Can't even think of another way to ask for a drink which doesn't make me sound like a prick. May I have, I would like, bring me a

'can I get' as opposed to 'could/can I have' is 100% American way of saying it.

You've been watching too many American soaps mate   :P

with milligan on this one.

nitpickers itt

Yank >:(  :D

Can't quote all on my phone. But Ohhhhhhh. Can I have a... I see what you are getting at. I Probs use them interchangingly. Right anyway, back to my peanut butter and jelly sammich followed by some jello and ice cream.

Bur surely you can't just 'have' it.  If we're being correct it has to be "May I purchase"

How would you ask for it? I can't in a million years asking it you could 'get' one, unless you used to watch Friends  ;D

Who cares.

You 'get' and 'level' guys please hand in your passports on your way out please  ;D

I would say "can I have" but I wouldn't argue that it's more correct than 'can I get'.

"No thanks, I'm good" on the other hand.....

I would say your 'I'm good' example is no different to the OP tbh.

It was a level.

 >:(

Spent another hour on this while walking round Tesco.

It really does make me roll my eyes and think moron when people say it. I think it's because they are acting rather than being a normal person.

It's a bit like when yuppies were first born, they vexed me as well.

TBF, this is the only major issue I'm dealing with at the moment so life is good and I might let it go so I can get back on a completely even keel.

Thought u were a yuppie?

Yah, a lot of people think that

Nooooooo don't leave me alone, the kidzzz that watch American telly will gang up on me mate  ;)

OK mate, some of us need to stand up against this American onslaught. We need to speak properly through our mouths full of fries

I say it all the time; bars, restaurants etc.  I always say please at the end though.  Initially thought this thread was about lack of manners coz that was omitted.  

I've been to restaurants and bars with nirvana and never seen steam come out of his ears as I order though - maybe he's been wanting to scream at me but decided to let rip in a blonde thread instead to avoid making me cry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796

Ok these were pretty annoying.

Equally when I hear the word douche or anybody say UTG instead of under the gun in real life I die a little bit.

The weird thing is I lived in the US for a year a while back, and picked up the lingo over there as it saves repeating yourself all the time if you do. When I go there now I slip straight back into it, but hate it with a passion over here.

Might have missed it but they didn't mention 'share' as in

"I'd like to share my thoughts with you" ... er, please don't.

Claw, this whole thing is why I always order and pay for everything - please don't cry.

Excellent, I do this too - " May I have a glass of water ?" and they look at you like you are a brand new species. " Could I get a watter ? " and they're brill

And the worst Americanism of all.........the word 'like'

'We were like having an awesome time'

Now that one tilts the shit outta me  >:(

can i grab a...? i often hear. that's weird.

couldnt careless personally.

though i do hate ppl saying "Math" and other such BLATENT americanisms.

Can I get is fine imo.

"Turn that off already"

is just as bad as MATH imo

I saw that BBC article when it came out - couldn't help noticing that a lot of the 'Americanisms' that annoyed people in the comments didn't come from America.

Which nicely illustrated why English being infected by American is a lot less of a concern to me than the sheer amount of stupid people around is.

I agree with Red Dog about the 'get' / 'have' paradigm. I wouldn't say get, but that doesn't make it objectively less accurate than have.
"Please will you sell me a Vodka Red Bull ?" - might be.

Math is obviously just wrong.

Yes but just because something isn't a precise description of something doesn't mean it isn't correct English.

How is it wrong for me to ask if I can get a beer when the very reason for me going to the bar is to get a beer?

It's not wrong if you don't mind asking in American English  :P

Cause you know the answer. If you asked it in a shoe shop it would be a weird but understandable question.

'may i have a beer please?' is just as obvious but very English

two issues ITT

"Cause.......", Glenda?

Sorry

There are a number of complications to consider. For example, if the barman asks "What can I get you?" he initiates the linguistic faux pas and you are invited into his dark world of Americanisms. So if you respond with "Can you get me a beer?" I'm not sure how incorrect that actually is. Also you could be asking for that beer in TGI Friday's and so not sure whether American inspired terminology is acceptable in an American inspired bar. I think the best strategy is to just go to the bar and say "beer please". This is a particularly good method because you can insert any drink of your choice before the word please and it still works.

I think it's OK for the barman to ask this because he can, in fact, get you a beer. Like I say, I've thought about this a great deal.

I am OK with people saying, "could you get me a Carling Black Label please" since it's polite, a realistic expectation and you do indeed actually want him to get/bring you a beer.  This is the antithesis of "could I (me me me) get a beer" - probably with a rising inflection.

My preference, much like you suggest, is not to pad the conversation unnecessarily in an attempt to appear that I am somehow cool, just blown in from a meeting on a transatlantic flight.

"A pint of Guiness please"

"For a main I'd like the 12 Bird roast please"

Quite sufficient

Can i get a whoop whoop?

If you don't go to the gym and eat your greens you will get a whoop whoop on yer arse old son  :)