Back in Germany I always had quite a hard time apologising. Admitting that you were actually wrong and someone else was right? No way! But here in the UK, I apologise for many things, many times a day.
For example, the other day I had afternoon tea with some friends. My delicious piece of carrot cake arrived, but then I realised I didn't have a fork or a spoon to eat it. So, I said to the waiter: " I'm really sorry to bother you again, but would you mind bringing me a fork or a spoon?"
British people seem to apologise in particular when it's not their fault. When someone bumps into you in the street, you say sorry as well. When someone asks you for a cigarette, the correct thing to say here is: "Sorry, but I don't smoke".
Before the Olympics the Guardian released an etiquette guide for Olympics visitors and in there it said:
"British people may seem to apologise a lot, but it doesn't quite mean the same thing here. In the UK, "I'm sorry" actually means either a) I didn't hear you; b) I didn't understand you; or c) I both heard and understood you, and I think you're an idiot."
So, it seems like sorry means a lot of different things. Let's explore.
Brits admit that a third of the time, they don't actually mean it. The Top 5 situations of using the word "sorry" are:
1) When you don't have time to speak to someone or do something
2) To apologise on someone else's behalf, such as children, a partner or a colleague
3) When you didn't hear what someone was saying
4) When you want something to be explained to you again
5) When you actually feel the need to apologise for having double-crossed, lied to or let someone down
Maybe Elton John was right after all?
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