Dear Folks,

 

This evening begins the beginning of our weekend.

 

In America, as I recall it, back in 1990, almost everybody you met on a Friday would exhort you, and everybody else who was with you, to "Have a Good One".

 

But...a Good what?

 

During the past 30 years, I had thought that I had heard the last of it.

 

Yet, yesterday, someone sent me an email from Florida, and closed the email by wishing that I might Have a Good One, tomorrow.

 

What do you think they are talking about when they wish you a Good One?

 

Is this just an Americanism, do you think?

 

Each week, when Friday rolls around, do you wish your wife....a Good One?

What about your wife's brother?

A Good One, too?

 

I must say that I really do not like this expression.

And now, after receiving this recent email, I truly wonder what I must do to escape, for good, the inanity of this useless expression, which really means nothing...as far as I can tell.

 

Might it be necessary to use a filter on my incoming emails?

 

But still, just in case I might be missing some hidden meaning, I wonder if you might know...

 

What is a Good One?

 

Do you, yourselves, enjoy a Good One on a Saturday eve?

 

What is good for you might not be so good for me, naturally.

 

Or, is there some sort of Good One that is good for us all, which they are wishing me?

 

Just wondering.

 

Maybe C.B. Ozbourne might know?

Or, if he does not...

Then...do you?

 

Tks.

GG

 

 

Nothing better to do than waffle on Gamma? Give it a rest.

Oh, they mean 'Have a good weekend'

5 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Nothing better to do than waffle on Gamma? Give it a rest.

Oh, they mean 'Have a good weekend'

 

Actually, according to several dictionaries that I have referenced, the phrase does not mean to "have a good weekend".

At least, certainly, not exclusively.

 

This is why I detest this phrase...

It's just far to nebulous, and nobody knows what anybody is wishing someone.

Don't believe me?

Check it out for yourself.

 

 

4 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Actually, according to several dictionaries that I have referenced, the phrase does not mean to "have a good weekend".

At least, certainly, not exclusively.

 

This is why I detest this phrase...

It's just far to nebulous, and nobody knows what anybody is wishing someone.

Don't believe me?

Check it out for yourself.

 

 

Sorry Gamma, better things to do. It's a bit like 'How are you doing' ?

 

there are also tons of euphamisms, idioms and slang terms to ponder over. should keep you happy in pondersome inanity for a while!

22 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

This evening begins the beginning of our weekend.

 

In America, as I recall it, back in 1990, almost everybody you met on a Friday would exhort you, and everybody else who was with you, to "Have a Good One".

 

But...a Good what?

Doughnut!

yea definitely a doughnut  . I think you should run out and get one. and make sure to get a good one . Sunday evening everyone will compare doughnuts, and the one with the worst will be "it" for the week. And you don't want that to happen to you, unless you live in San Francisco.

22 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Sorry Gamma, better things to do. It's a bit like 'How are you doing' ?

 

 

If someone says to me, "How are you doing?", then I know what to say in reply.

 

However, when they say, "Have a good one!", I inevitably think...a good what?

 

This nonsense began sometime around 1980s, I think.

 

Quite jarring when you first hear this phrase for the first and umpteenth time.

 

 

I have always taken it to mean have a good round of golf, but that's just me.

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I have always taken it to mean have a good round of golf, but that's just me.

And I always thought that it meant the weekend bumpsing with the Mrs.

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

I have always taken it to mean have a good round of golf, but that's just me.

 

Right.

That's my objection to the phase.

It's so ill-defined that it could mean both anything and also nothing.

How can people even talk like this?

Don't they have any respect for the English language?

 

3 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

If someone says to me, "How are you doing?", then I know what to say in reply.

 

However, when they say, "Have a good one!", I inevitably think...a good what?

 

This nonsense began sometime around 1980s, I think.

 

Quite jarring when you first hear this phrase for the first and umpteenth time.

 

 

Why, when it is next said to you, do you not stop and ask 'a good what? It is jarring me"

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

And I always thought that it meant the weekend bumpsing with the Mrs.

9 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

If someone says to me, "How are you doing?", then I know what to say in reply.

So do I, like 'doing what may I ask please?' How do you reply Gamma?

 

Anyway, do have a good one whatever you are doing, and take it easy on the jarring. 

And I hope your CPU fits your mobo!

59 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

What is a Good One?

It’s code for: You specifically G.Glob, lack the ability to understand idioms, among many other things in this world.

2 minutes ago, novacova said:

It’s code for: You specifically G.Glob, lack the ability to understand idioms, among many other things in this world.

Nah, he's just trying to wind us all up. Nobody could  post some of the waffle he does for it to be taken seriously.

11 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Why, when it is next said to you, do you not stop and ask 'a good what? It is jarring me"

 

I will not, again, have the opportunity to ask, I hope.

 

It was just this email out of the blue, yesterday, that reminded me how terrible life was in the US with everybody exhorting anybody to "Have a good one" that jarred me so unexpectedly.

 

Here in Thailand, and also East Asia, people do not talk like that.

 

I feel comfortable in Asia, where people seldom utter nonsensical utterances, much less voice the same dumb phrase 50 times a day.

 

To me, hearing that unmentionable phrase, repeated over and over, was like nails across a chalkboard.

 

Never going back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

19 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Er- proofread your posts. please.

IMO you meant phrase, not phase.

My respect for the English language starts with using correct spelling.

 

There is no doubt.

Your proper spelling ability is far superior to mine.

 

12 minutes ago, novacova said:

It’s code for: You specifically G.Glob, lack the ability to understand idioms, among many other things in this world.

 

CODE?

 

You see?

 

I was completely right about you!

 

Cheers, im half pissed already, you have to be to put up with it all 

11 minutes ago, proton said:

Cheers, im half pissed already, you have to be to put up with it all 

Nothing wrong, it's always 5pm somewhere.

Just think of it as an offering that is intended to convey positive sentiments. It kind of exists in the same universe as advertising copy that extolls a product as being "better" without stating what it is better than.

 

Although it can be puzzling to try to determine exactly what a "good one" is, and may vary from person to person, I wouldn't waste too much time on it. I would be more concerned if someone parted with an "up yours!". 

Gamma, obviously you 'weren't drug up in New York', so I'll explain it to you in easy to understand language. 

One says "have a good one" when someone is about to go to the bathroom, and to spell not out, it means have a good poo. 

7 minutes ago, retarius said:

Gamma, obviously you 'weren't drug up in New York', so I'll explain it to you in easy to understand language. 

One says "have a good one" when someone is about to go to the bathroom, and to spell not out, it means have a good poo. 

 

This is the main problem with a phrase having no meaning.

Anyone can assign any meaning to it.

Any your chosen meaning is just as legitimate as the choice of the next guy.

 

 

27 minutes ago, retarius said:

Gamma, obviously you 'weren't drug up in New York', so I'll explain it to you in easy to understand language. 

One says "have a good one" when someone is about to go to the bathroom, and to spell not out, it means have a good poo. 

And halfway through the said poo, you shout 'How you doing? or 'How's it going?'

Think of it this way: "Have a good _____"

It's exophoric referencing.  When the ''one'' is already understood.  So the person just says ''Have a good one.''  In this sentence one is used a pronoun.

 

Anaphoric reference:  John is tall, funny, smart and he likes to play chess.

 

Cataphoric reference:  He is tall, he is funny, he is smart and John loves to play chess.

 

Exophoric reference:  He is tall, funny, smart and he likes to play Chess.

5 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Dear Folks,

 

This evening begins the beginning of our weekend.

 

In America, as I recall it, back in 1990, almost everybody you met on a Friday would exhort you, and everybody else who was with you, to "Have a Good One".

 

But...a Good what?

 

During the past 30 years, I had thought that I had heard the last of it.

 

Yet, yesterday, someone sent me an email from Florida, and closed the email by wishing that I might Have a Good One, tomorrow.

 

What do you think they are talking about when they wish you a Good One?

 

Is this just an Americanism, do you think?

 

Each week, when Friday rolls around, do you wish your wife....a Good One?

What about your wife's brother?

A Good One, too?

 

I must say that I really do not like this expression.

And now, after receiving this recent email, I truly wonder what I must do to escape, for good, the inanity of this useless expression, which really means nothing...as far as I can tell.

 

Might it be necessary to use a filter on my incoming emails?

 

But still, just in case I might be missing some hidden meaning, I wonder if you might know...

 

What is a Good One?

 

Do you, yourselves, enjoy a Good One on a Saturday eve?

 

What is good for you might not be so good for me, naturally.

 

Or, is there some sort of Good One that is good for us all, which they are wishing me?

 

Just wondering.

 

Maybe C.B. Ozbourne might know?

Or, if he does not...

Then...do you?

 

Tks.

GG

 

 

Plenty of  meaningless greeting and goodby phrases.

But I can top it all. Very common in the German language to greet someone by "Gruess Gott". In English: "Greet God".

As I have no connection to God, how should I relate his greetings to God? Why does he not greet God himself, without taking me as an "in between"?

Try this: If in England or the US. instead of saying "Hello", say "Greet God". You will get some strange looks. Rightly so, but not so in Germany.

5 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

What do you think they are talking about when they wish you a Good One?

 

A bowel movement. 

Public discussion of other members is against community guidelines.

 

Posts removed.

It's a general way to wish others well, usually when parting/saying goodbye. It does not have to pertain to anything specific, but could. Possibly referring to anything coming up in your near future. "Have a good day/night. Have a good trip. Have a good time. Have a good day at school/work. Have a good experience. Have a good life. etc.." 

 

Much like the phrase, "Take it easy". What is "it"?