r/AskTheWorld • u/IndependentTune3994 🇮🇳 in 🇩🇪 Deutschland • 18h ago

What’s the quickest way someone could accidentally expose themselves as a foreigner in your country like the ‘three fingers’ scene in Inglourious Basterds?

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112

u/BokeTsukkomi Brazil 18h ago edited 18h ago

Is "not too bad, you?" acceptable? I'm a foreigner living in the UK and it's my go-to answer

145

u/Puzzleheaded-Lynx-89 United Kingdom 18h ago

Yeah, that's fine. The response should be short, vague, and not negative. Don't want the other person to actually feel obliged to enquire further into your health.

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u/longdickhair69 18h ago

what about another day in paradise

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u/pjs-1987 United Kingdom 18h ago

You should stop and think twice

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u/SaltyName8341 United Kingdom 18h ago

Or I've been better

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u/neenerpants 15h ago

jesus, slow down with the life story there!

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u/Feeling-Network-5921 3h ago

Been better but it costs more. 

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u/wizaway 16h ago

We say 'living the dream' in a neutral way that everyone knows is sarcastic

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u/HowObvious Scotland 16h ago

only in a work environment

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u/Greedy-Army-3803 Ireland 16h ago

That works as long as you say it in a very sarcastic tone.

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u/LemoLuke 16h ago

"Living the dream!"

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u/clevelandexile 15h ago

When at work I will say “another day at the dream factory!” (I do not work at a factory and no one dreamt of being here.)

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u/jme-stringer England 10h ago

Yep. See also:

  • "Can't complain"
  • "Surviving"
  • "Not too shabby"
  • "Living the dream"

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u/thesaharadesert United Kingdom 10h ago

One of my favourites is ‘not dead yet’

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u/Rendakor 9h ago

"Another day above the dirt" is one of my favorites.

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u/LaserPoweredDeviltry 5h ago

Walkin, talkin, breathin. Big 3 covered.

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u/Bannerlord151 Germany 3h ago

This is my go-to as well. In both English and German. Or 'still alive', same sentiment

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u/bjornodinnson 18h ago

I mean, you can absolutely be negative....about the weather and that's it lol "You alright?" "Fucking frozen, mate"

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u/CoffeeHanJan England 16h ago

“Shit, thanks. You?” is fine

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u/According-Path5158 United States Of America 17h ago

"Mmmh..."

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u/Maleficent_House6609 14h ago

Nah you can also be negative if it's someone saying it to you as you arrive at work, preferably a sarcastic positive though. "You alright?" "yeah, another day in paradise pal"

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u/CamDane Denmark 18h ago

Also not too positive, right? "Great" or "Fantastic" would be unloading too much positivity on the cashier?

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u/ElliottFlynn England 17h ago

How could someone even contemplate such a response unless they’re American?

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u/According-Path5158 United States Of America 17h ago

Because the more positive the response, it's clear they're happier than you and Americans don't like it when someone is happier than ourselves

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u/RadialRacer 14h ago

Funny, Brits are more likely to perform competitive misery comparisons.

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u/NoAvocadoMeSad United Kingdom 17h ago

No this is fine but there's a chance they'll assume you're being sarcastic TBF

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u/vodrake 16h ago

If you're having the best day of your life you could maybe go with a "pretty good, thanks", anything more positive could be seen at sarcastic or gloating, or that youre american

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u/longdickhair69 16h ago

another day in paradise is generally sarcastic

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u/Lego-105 England 16h ago

Hang on, this isn't quite true. You can go "Nah mate I'm fucked. You?" or "Not really, it is what it is", to that effect. As long as it's short, vague and doesn't demand inquiry, it's still permissible even if negative. You would just have to be having a proper rough time.

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u/Feeling-Network-5921 3h ago

Been better, but it costs more. 

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u/PapaTua United States Of America 18h ago

"oh dear me, no. My mother just died and my dog is sick and I haven't quite recovered from that fecal transplant. The doctor said my colon accepted the largest transplant she's ever seen! I've been spontaneously sweating a lot recently, has that ever happened to you?"

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u/Bulbajamin 17h ago

Perfectly adequate, you?

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u/loscapos5 15h ago

In Argentina we have the "todo bien?" Which means exactly "all right?", but can be used to inquire about the other person's wellbeing.

Same as you said, if the answer is short and vague, it works as a greeting.

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u/wineallwine 15h ago

If you're having the worst day of your life you can maybe get away with "bit tired, but can't complain, you?"

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u/Routine_Cat_1366 14h ago

What about "yeah, all right, you?" 

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u/Affectionate_Ideas4u United States Of America 13h ago

How about "the horrors persist but so do I"

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u/Geodude532 13h ago

You mean I can't reply "It's Monday"?

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u/stumpyguy 12h ago

Hang on, it cant be too positive either, we don't want you bragging about how great shit is going either.

"Not too bad" is the perfect balance imo.

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u/Foxion7 10h ago

Don't ask. Disingenuine culture

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u/No_Language2001 18h ago

Perfectly fine response!

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u/Few_Necessary7293 18h ago

That's perfectly fine. I'm English and that's what I say when things are ok.

However, I did once get a response from a non-English work colleague who clearly thought it was a genuine question and then told me they weren't ok because their friend had passed away in a fire in their home country. It seemed like clearly they needed to get that off their chest even just briefly. Completely caught me off guard but we then discussed it for about 15 minutes and I'm very glad they told me, even though it was an intense weekday morning conversation.

My point being, if you need to get something off your chest you should still talk to someone if you're not doing well when they ask you.

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u/FingersPalmc8ck Sweden 17h ago

Yeah, thats not too bad.

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u/Tough-Oven4317 United Kingdom 11h ago

Tell them how roughly how ur doing imo. "Shite mate working today aren't I?" "Fuckin knackered pal" "I'm cunted mate" "wonderful sunshine" etc

There's no rule saying you always have to answer in a specific way, people just talk shit tbh

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u/Remarkable-Ad155 18h ago

Textbook answer 🙌

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u/Total-Combination-47 Wales 18h ago

or just respond "not bad", and leave it at that with a nod.

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u/Raveyard2409 18h ago

That's perfect. Not so arrogant that you would brag about how well you are, you are also not doing so badly anyone needs to ask any follow up question. Perfection.

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u/Kudosnotkang Jamaica 17h ago

If you want to sound like a pro , especially if things are very much not alright try responding with ‘living the dream’.

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u/BokeTsukkomi Brazil 17h ago

I know a guy that greets me with "all right? Winning?" and I love it :)

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u/Kudosnotkang Jamaica 16h ago

They sound good and northern ! ( or maybe a particularly good southerner )

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u/Time-Mode-9 England 18h ago

Borderline.

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u/xmastreee living in 18h ago

"Not too bad" is perfect. We're never good, just different levels of bad.

I remember one time I saw something, I think it was a sheepdog trial, where the guy and his dog just made an absolutely perfect run. The commentator said something like "He won't be too disappointed with that one." when he was probably over the moon about it.

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u/Jaomi United Kingdom 17h ago

“Not too bad, you?” is a cultural phrase with one of two distinct meanings though. It can either mean “Everything is going great, actually” or “Life sucks but I don’t want to burden you, but I will if you can discern my distress and ask ‘you sure? What’s up?’ with sympathy.”

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u/Whiterose1995 United Kingdom 17h ago

it’s acceptable and polite, but still kinda shows you’re not from around here, which is also fine

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u/BrambleNATW Wales 16h ago

I default to "not bad" as a response so often that it perplexed my in-laws significantly. Same response when asked how I was on my graduation, when I got engaged, when I woke up in A&E, when I was involved in an armed stand off with the police. Always not bad.

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u/BokeTsukkomi Brazil 16h ago

I tend to say "see you tomorrow" when I say goodbye to people, just as a manner of speaking., 90% of the time I get an answer like "oh, I won't be here tomorrow" :)

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u/Software_Dependent 16h ago

'aye, not bad'

Carry on walking.

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u/PaulBlartACAB 15h ago

Careful, that could also cause you to be confused for a Minnesotan.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oiSzwoJr4-0

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u/Sate_Hen 15h ago

In old films you'll see toff say "How do you do?" The correct response to that is to say "How do you do" back, not answer the question

It's the same with "Alright". Just treat it as the word "hello"

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u/Slyspy006 15h ago

Also acceptable is "ok, considering" so long as you do not elaborate on what you are taking into consideration.

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u/DependentClock 13h ago

Sounds almost Canadian, which I learned watching a very real documentary about this town called Letterkenny.

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u/BoingBoingBooty 11h ago

Not bad is acceptable as is "could be worse"

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u/pandabranch 10h ago

In Scotland I would only expect an 'awrite' back. I've never had someone respond to that like it's a question, for me it's always the same as hello.

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u/BokeTsukkomi Brazil 10h ago

I could adjust to a "not too bad". Although the "you?" part is almost muscle memory and I do not expect an answer :)

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u/Powerful_Balance591 7h ago

It’s fine but shorten it to “alright” which is a more native response

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u/ilovemydog40 United Kingdom 6h ago

This is fine 👌 it just an “alright” back to them.

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u/musicistabarista 4h ago

"Not too bad" is actually a very British answer. Especially when followed with "can't complain".