"Can I get..."

[MOBB]

Just "treated" myself to a Subway for lunch, whilst stood queuing with 6 other equally lucky random people, every single one of them revealed what they wanted by saying "can I get..................".

One even used this term for each item of salad he desired. "Can I get lettuce.....can I get sweetcorn........and so on".

Where has this bks come from? I might try it in a chippy.

[Cyder]

My wife does this.

For the quiet life I choose to grind my teeth and bite my tongue rather than confront her and have a domestic about it.

[MOBB]

Cyder said:

My wife does this.

For the quiet life I choose to grind my teeth and bite my tongue rather than confront her and have a domestic about it.

Yes my wife said it in a Costa once, we had words though.

[anonymous-user]

MOBB said:

Just "treated" myself to a Subway for lunch, whilst stood queuing with 6 other equally lucky random people, every single one of them revealed what they wanted by saying "can I get..................".

One even used this term for each item of salad he desired. "Can I get lettuce.....can I get sweetcorn........and so on".

Where has this bks come from? I might try it in a chippy.

That’s called evolution of language. When new phrases become more popular, they become the norm. Do you still speak the same way as Shakespeare?

Language and usage of words is constantly evolving, new words and phrases come along all the time.

[AndrewEH1]

As opposed to saying...?

[anonymous-user]

Its an americanism and the yoof of this country are obsessed with America and wanting to be American.

[gregs656]

It’s not abusive and I take it all those people got a sandwich with the ingredients they wanted?

[Bob Dong]

Hope you're okay OP

[dundarach]

AndrewEH1 said:

As opposed to saying...?

Could I have

Please may I have

Tomato please

Tomato

Followed by Thank you

Goodbye, cheerio is optional


If I were ever in the position of having this idiotic thing spouted at me, 'Can I get sweetcorn...'

I would reply, 'Yes you may if that's what you would like?' and then wait until they asked properly

Edited by dundarach on Thursday 4th July 12:38

[Prizam]

AndrewEH1 said:

As opposed to saying...?

I would like.

"Can I get" implies you are going to get behind the counter and do the job for them. And to be fair, after the last subway, watching the guy fail miserably at everything he did. Getting it my self would be a better option.

[PistonBroker]

Yeah, my Mum and Dad can't stand this. I'm 41 though so I have chosen to ignore them!

I'm not sure why I started saying it, but it does seem to make sense in places like Subway, McDs etc.

It's a steady decline - my 9yo commented that his Mum was crossing the road to go to the 'mailbox' this morning. He also says 'anyways' quite regularly and let's not get started on his 12yo sister's fondness for interspersing every word with 'like'.

I blame YouTube.

[TameRacingDriver]

Christ, some people are so easily triggered, no wonder there's an epidemic of high blood pressure in this country!

[devnull]

I make it easy

Subway club - Italian herbs and cheese, cheese and toasted
all the salad except for tomatoes and cucumbers
southwest sauce, salt and pepper

[james-witton]

devnull said:

I make it easy

Subway club - Italian herbs and cheese, cheese and toasted
all the salad except for tomatoes and cucumbers
southwest sauce, salt and pepper

..... please.

[Leonard Stanley]

Marginally better than saying ‘Can I of.........?’

[J4CKO]

Yeah, it annoys me as well but have just chosen to not worry about it, language evolves.

It isnt quite correct though as the person serving will get it for you, could I have suggests you want to procure a sandwich, and Can I Get suggests you will be retrieving it yourself from behind the counter.

I remember first hearing it in London on a course, I ended up with the guy sat next to me in the class tagging along and the place had its own restaurant downstairs for course delegates, first day or two we got our food and I had clocked them saying "Can I Get", then my shadow the next day goes "Errr, Can I get the Lasagne" and seemed to have adopted the accent as well, instead of his Peterborough one, a bit London, with a hint of Kevin the Teenager.

I just dont say it, try not to moan about it, stuff changes and nothing makes you sound more of an old fart.

[Master Bean]

One would like a submarine sandwich please.

[BrabusMog]

Did anyone get chicken pizziola on hearty Italian with extra bacon and chilli sauce?

[Pintofbest]

james-witton said:

devnull said:

I make it easy

Subway club - Italian herbs and cheese, cheese and toasted
all the salad except for tomatoes and cucumbers
southwest sauce, salt and pepper

..... please.

Followed by another choice as they stopped doing the club years ago

[budgie smuggler]

If this is the most annoying thing that happens to you in subway, you're doing well.

I would like a Meatball Marina footlong on hearty italian please.

- We don't 'ave any marina

Okay, could I have the sub of the day then please?

- Nah iss sold out bruv

Okay, what do you have?

- Got steak and cheese. Das nice bruv. Ah, nah, wait doe. No cheese left. What 'bout ham?

Sure, why not. Footlong on hearty italian.

- Aint got dat bread.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 4th July 13:18