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AIBU?

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Original poster

I'll get the salmon

293 replies

wand3rer · 23/05/2026 15:55

Any tiny little habits that make you feel a bit more “put together”?

For example, in a restaurant I’ll just say “I’ll get the salmon” instead of reading out the whole dish name exactly as it’s written on the menu (“salmon with roasted potatoes and vegetables”).

It’s such a ridiculously small thing but it makes me feel smoother 😎😂

What else?

OP posts:
DugnuttEyeBoogies · 23/05/2026 16:42

If I said anything other than “Please may I have the salmon” I think my Granny would come back and haunt me.

OP whoever told you “I’ll get” is correct is either 17 or watches too much American tv. Or both.

Original poster
wand3rer · 23/05/2026 16:42

@EvenMoreFuriousVexation

Agreed! A few days ago, a poster was asking for advice on which cap to buy. They got trashed! So much anger on Mumsnet 😔

OP posts:
Original poster
wand3rer · 23/05/2026 16:41

@Ponoka7 @BeardySchnauzer @Words @MyAutumnCrow @sunhat100 @SemmaLina @tommyhoundmum @Mingou

Well noted! Reverting back to 'I'll have', 'I'd like' or 'may I have' ☺️

OP posts:
DaffodilLill · 23/05/2026 16:41

CurlewKate · 23/05/2026 16:40

”I’ll get..” is good US manners….

Well we all know the Yanks can't speak 'proper' English!

Delphiniumandlupins · 23/05/2026 16:41

Saying "Can I get...." sounds almost as good as "Can I have...." but "I'll get...." sounds wrong.

DaffodilLill · 23/05/2026 16:40

I though this was about shopping in a supermarket.

It's what DP and I say when we go shopping separately.

I'll 'get' the apples and he'll 'get' the bananas.

You don't use 'get' when you order food.

CurlewKate · 23/05/2026 16:40

”I’ll get..” is good US manners….

liveforsummer · 23/05/2026 16:39

latetothefisting · 23/05/2026 16:28

I've literally never heard anyone say it the other way, i.e. listing the whole dish! unless of course there are multiple similar dishes, but even then (e.g. at an italian) they'd say "I'll have the pepperoni pizza please," rather than "I'll have the pepperoni pizza with anchovies and red pepper."

Who has time to list everything and what would the point be? The waiter just needs you to identify it, not read their menu back to them.

It’s quite common for menus to offer a choice of sides so you’d say ‘can I have the salmon please with new potatoes and veg (as opposed to chips and salad for example) and asparagus (could be an optional extra with a small price up).

CurlewKate · 23/05/2026 16:39

“I’ll have the salmon, please” Don’t like “I’ll get….”

Mingou · 23/05/2026 16:39

wand3rer · 23/05/2026 16:11

Oh, that's interesting! I'm not British. Until recently, I would have used 'I'll have the salmon'. But I was told that 'I'll get' is actually the right phrasing in the UK

@PoppieCock @likelysuspect @BeardySchnauzer

Show quote history

it's not. You won't get the salmon, the waiter will get it for you.

BillieWiper · 23/05/2026 16:39

I don't think anyone reads out the sides or the entire menu description when ordering?

Unless you were in a sushi/fish place and there were dozens of versions of salmon.

I'm kind of surprised you even notice this as a thing? It doesn't make me feel 'put together', it's just basic communication.

W0tnow · 23/05/2026 16:38

Please

W0tnow · 23/05/2026 16:38

Not the whole description, but say you have a beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetarian, and a fish dish. I imagine the OP means saying I’ll have the spatchcock spring chicken with market vegetables, instead of I’ll have the chicken.

DaffodilLill · 23/05/2026 16:38

wand3rer · 23/05/2026 15:55

Any tiny little habits that make you feel a bit more “put together”?

For example, in a restaurant I’ll just say “I’ll get the salmon” instead of reading out the whole dish name exactly as it’s written on the menu (“salmon with roasted potatoes and vegetables”).

It’s such a ridiculously small thing but it makes me feel smoother 😎😂

What else?

It's more usual and polite to say 'I'll have the salmon, please.'

Assuming you're talking to someone taking your order.

FeliciaFancybottom · 23/05/2026 16:36

sweetpickle2 · 23/05/2026 16:15

In America I think they'd be more likely to say "I'll do the salmon" so 'get' sounds preferable to me!

But agree with PP I don't think anyone reads out the whole description, do they?

I think 'I'll do the salmon', means something quite different altogether.

BCBird · 23/05/2026 16:34

There are a growing number of people in England saying, can I get the...?. It usually people in their 20s or younger i find. Winds me up

KnitWitsAnonymous · 23/05/2026 16:31

Back to the original question . . . .

I love having an organised handbag, with compartments for different things. So if I or anyone else needs a pen, tissues, paracetamol, a first class stamp or Auntie Jane's address I can quickly find it

latetothefisting · 23/05/2026 16:28

I've literally never heard anyone say it the other way, i.e. listing the whole dish! unless of course there are multiple similar dishes, but even then (e.g. at an italian) they'd say "I'll have the pepperoni pizza please," rather than "I'll have the pepperoni pizza with anchovies and red pepper."

Who has time to list everything and what would the point be? The waiter just needs you to identify it, not read their menu back to them.

Differentforgirls · 23/05/2026 16:28

wand3rer · 23/05/2026 15:55

Any tiny little habits that make you feel a bit more “put together”?

For example, in a restaurant I’ll just say “I’ll get the salmon” instead of reading out the whole dish name exactly as it’s written on the menu (“salmon with roasted potatoes and vegetables”).

It’s such a ridiculously small thing but it makes me feel smoother 😎😂

What else?

I'll HAVE the salmon. You're not going to get it. The waiter is!

StandingDeskDisco · 23/05/2026 16:27

wand3rer · 23/05/2026 16:11

Oh, that's interesting! I'm not British. Until recently, I would have used 'I'll have the salmon'. But I was told that 'I'll get' is actually the right phrasing in the UK

@PoppieCock @likelysuspect @BeardySchnauzer

Show quote history

Ah okay. As you are not British, I'll just let you know that the phrase 'put together' refers to clothing, accessories and hair. As you put your outfit together.
It is not used for speech patterns or other mannerism.

Spookyspaghetti · 23/05/2026 16:27

likelysuspect · 23/05/2026 15:59

You wouldnt say 'get' the salmon either, you would say 'I'll have the salmon'

It sounds to me like she is offering to buy a round of salmon for the restaurant 😆

HelenaWilson · 23/05/2026 16:27

I cringe a bit when people hold up the menu and point to what they want and read it out loud.

Well I'm afraid I do that if the menu is in Italian or whatever, so the waiter is clear about what I want, in case I mispronounce the name of the dish, or the waiter can't understand me, if English isn't his/her first language.

PleasantPedant · 23/05/2026 16:26

I thought you were providing the salmon for others.

Thefrenchconnection1 · 23/05/2026 16:26

I think it's a age thing. My young adults say get, so do a lot of younger people. I don't like it but I'm older. If you are talking to under 30s get is fine. Older people may think it's ruder just cos it's newer language. P.s. my opinion of course based on my experience not all older people

tommyhoundmum · 23/05/2026 16:26

wand3rer · 23/05/2026 16:11

Oh, that's interesting! I'm not British. Until recently, I would have used 'I'll have the salmon'. But I was told that 'I'll get' is actually the right phrasing in the UK

@PoppieCock @likelysuspect @BeardySchnauzer

Show quote history

No, it's really not. Address the waiter politely, ie look at them and say "I'd like the salmon please."

Also in cafes not "can I get" but "please can I have" or "may I please have."