Thank you

Question

when I Say Thanks many people respond in different ways. whats the deal? some say welcome, not a problem, anytime,sure. can somebody tell me about it

Trellis · Accepted Answer

"You're welcome" is a USA phrase.
Until a few years ago nobody but Americans said it.

Now it is becoming more common in other countries too,
maybe because of USA movies and TV?

UK people used to reply to "thank you" in various ways, such
as your examples, but they never said "you're welcome".

When I first moved to London, if I said "you're welcome" to someone
they would stare at me blankly, or ask me, "What?"

They did not seem to have any sort of a common phrase
for responding to "thank you" when I lived there.

I recall hearing "cheers" and "ta" and "thank you"
as replies when I said "thank you" to someone.

Perhaps it is (or was) a cultural discomfort with accepting gratitude?

)

I have not been to the UK for years, but I suspect that I
would hear "you're welcome" sometimes there now too.

There is no rule about how you must reply when someone says "thank you".

It is the same as when someone asks, "How are you?"

You can give a standard reply such as, "Fine thanks, and you?",
or you can tell them how you really feel.

I think it is good when people reply in more
creative ways to very common phrases.

It shows that they are there with you in real time, communicating with you,
rather that just automatically going through the motions of dialogue.

Thank you

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