GammaGlobulin Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Nothing better to do than waffle on Gamma? Give it a rest. Oh, they mean 'Have a good weekend' 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 (edited) 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' ? Edited January 19 by KannikaP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikmar Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 there are also tons of euphamisms, idioms and slang terms to ponder over. should keep you happy in pondersome inanity for a while! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacessit Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 I have always taken it to mean have a good round of golf, but that's just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 (edited) 2 minutes ago, KannikaP said: And I always thought that it meant the weekend bumpsing with the Mrs. Edited January 19 by KannikaP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 (edited) 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! Edited January 19 by KannikaP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novacova Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 (edited) 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. Edited January 19 by KannikaP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 (edited) 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. Edited January 19 by GammaGlobulin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proton Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Cheers, im half pissed already, you have to be to put up with it all 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etaoin Shrdlu Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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!". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retarius Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 (edited) 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?' Edited January 19 by KannikaP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timendres Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Think of it this way: "Have a good _____" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Daley Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 (edited) 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. Edited January 19 by Chris Daley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swissie Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 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. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthegimp Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 5 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said: What do you think they are talking about when they wish you a Good One? A bowel movement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Public discussion of other members is against community guidelines. Posts removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColeBOzbourne Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 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"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now