Secret nuances in the English language

What we say and what we really mean - do you know the difference?

The subtle nuances in the language often make it difficult for foreigners to understand what we really mean when we are speaking. An example of what native English people not saying exactly what they are thinking – they will say it’s ‘quite good’ – it’s really ‘a bit disappointing’ the phrase “very interesting”, when spoken by a British person, really means “This is clearly nonsense” but I am too polite to tell you that directly. “I hear what you say”, a phrase commonly used by British people in a range of social and business situations and for what people from outside of Britain understand, it’s another translation entirely. And rather than realising that when British people murmur, “That’s not bad” – and really mean “That’s good” – non-Brits think they’ve done a terrible job. I teach…