Being a Brazilian living in the UK, I am often surprised at how polite the British people can sound. The point is that I'm still struggling to read their real message between the lines.
The Telegraph have published something that might help: a translation table explaining the truth behind British politeness (ht Flavia Marreiro). Here are some of my favorites:
| What the British say | What Foreigners understand | What the British mean |
|---|---|---|
| With the greatest respect | He is listening to me | You are an idiot |
| That's not bad | That's poor | That's good |
| Quite good | Quite good | A bit disappointing |
| I would suggest | Think about the idea, but do what you like | Do it or be prepared to justify yourself |
| Very interesting | They are impressed | That is clearly nonsense |
| I almost agree | He's not far from agreement | I don't agree at all |
| I only have a few minor comments | He has found a few typos | Please rewrite completely |
ps. image credit: LLKC at weheartit.com
