Have a Nice Day

by Marinka on February 16, 2012

Here’s a conversation that I recently had with my husband:

I have a theory.

Ok.

Do you want to know what it is?

No, Marinka, I really don’t.

Funny. I’ll tell you. I have a theory that when people say “have a nice day” they’re really thinking “fuck you.”

That’s quite a theory.

I know, I’m very proud of it.

It doesn’t make sense, but theories don’t have to.

Yes, it does make sense. Because if you’re having a fight with someone on the message board they’ll often end their rant with “have a nice day” and you know they’re thinking “fuck you.”

Somehow I manage to get through my day without getting into “message board” fights.

You’re a lucky man.

I don’t waste my time on bullshit.

Do you ever say have a nice day to anyone?

No.

So why would someone say it?

Because people don’t know how to end a conversation. It’s just something to say.

Don’t you think it’s weird? Why can’t they just say “this conversation now seems to be over.”

That’s basically what it means. It’s another way of saying goodbye.

I think you’re wrong.

I don’t think so.

I do.

Have a nice day, Marinka.

One year ago ...

0saves
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the RSS feed.

{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

pgoodness
Twitter:
February 16, 2012 at 8:26 pm

Totally agree with you. I know I’ve certainly used it in the Fuck you manner!

Reply

Alexandra February 17, 2012 at 12:44 am

Oh, this made me laugh.

Do you know how my mother would end a conversation?

I’m still mortified at the memory:

“Had a nice day!”

She just couldn’t hear the difference. She’d tell our bright red faces: “What? I say what joo say– Had a nice day..like you say it. Just like eeet.”

Reply

Jonathan February 17, 2012 at 3:06 am

You are totally right! They either use it in the “fuck you, conversation over” way or they use it in the way like ” I am saying have a nice day to prove that I am a better person than you”. But have a nice day never means have a nice day!

Reply

zy81 February 17, 2012 at 3:59 am

haha
could try this someday to my husband

‘hav a nice day’ (don’t mean that way..aha)

Reply

Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes February 17, 2012 at 8:07 am

Of course that is what it means! Just like you say ‘have fun’ when you actually mean ‘die a slow and agonizing death from boredom’ when you tell someone who announces the’re of to a meeting ‘have fun’.

Reply

DawnA February 17, 2012 at 9:15 am

If you’re really slick you can work bye bye into buh bite me.

Reply

MsDolfinn February 17, 2012 at 9:19 am

If you end your emails with “Have a wonderful day!” does it also mean fuck you? If so, I’ve been telling my boss to fuck herself for years. Dream achieved!

Reply

cocobean February 17, 2012 at 10:11 am

I hate when people tell me “have a nice day” or “enjoy your meal” – who needs that kind of pressure.

Reply

Steph February 17, 2012 at 10:52 am

hee heee. too funny. loved this!

Reply

alaina
Twitter:
February 17, 2012 at 11:00 am

Ha. It’s just like “Bless her heart” which is actually calling her a dumbass.

Reply

annie February 17, 2012 at 5:40 pm

LOL! This is what I thought of too but I always understood it to be “Aww, bless your heart (bitch)!”

Or in the case of my husband’s aunt, when talking to me, it means “you heathen yankee bitch – I wish you would hurry up and die so my nephew can marry a nice southern baptist girl”.

Potato potahto

Reply

Dawn
Twitter:
February 17, 2012 at 1:12 pm

This gives a whole new meaning to the Bon Jovi song…. Wait, maybe that IS what they’re trying to say?

Reply

Awesome Dude February 17, 2012 at 6:34 pm

Do people generally wish each other well or ill?

Reply

Marta
Twitter:
February 17, 2012 at 10:35 pm

Haha. I will make sure to always tell my boss to have a nice day from now on.

Reply

dadsprimalscream February 19, 2012 at 1:22 pm

What a hilarious ending!

I used to teach ESL and my European students especially would complain how Americans flippantly throw out greetings like this and don’t really mean it. I think it’s a cultural thing and is indeed closer to your interpreted meaning than most Americans would admit.

Reply

Mary February 21, 2012 at 3:15 pm

Have a nice day translation is total “fuck you.” Don’t you hate it when people ask you, “How’s it going?” or “How you doin’?” (if you’re from Long Island as I am) and they really don’t want you to answer the question? I always answer and get the strangest looks. Thanks for the post and the theory – I’m with you.

Reply

Cancel reply

Reply to zy81:

Previous post:

Next post: