I'll get the salmon

[wand3rer]

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?

Haha me too!

I think I see what you are trying to say here. In the same vein, I have my martini order ready to go when ordering an aperitif in a nice bar/restaurant 🍸

Anyway.

This is a fish restaurant I take it OP?

What else they got?

First time for me to have so many people agree with me, though. Almost as though I might be right on this occasion.

I agree with previous posts about being on time and always having things like tissues, umbrella, folding hairbrush in your bag. I'd add a really nice pen to take out whenever you are asked to sign/fill in something.
Memorising details instead of rummaging for a letter is a good one.
Noticing others and what is happening, anticipating what they are going to do/need, and showing good manners in helping.

I'm probably going to sound all kinds of wrong but when I order I simply say "salmon, please"

This just sounds rude. It doesn’t make you sound decisive.

What do you do to make sure you’re never late for anything?

Absolutely not. It's a jarring Americanism.

She's Mussolini, the trains run on time for her

It really isn't right in the UK. It's an American phrase which has caught on a bit.

😂😂😂

@ReprogramNeeded

Great list! I love the ones about memorising details and being aware of your surroundings. Exactly the type of replies I was hoping for ❤️

Same actually.

I read the OP as some bizarre alternative to putting the kettle on when in a crisis. I imagined something terrible happens and OP takes a deep breath, counts to ten, grabs her coat and drives straight to Waitrose to do the only logical thing in such a dire situation.

I thought the same!!!

It would be a much more interesting thread than being “smooth” about using a horrible American expression.

i’d love to hear about everyone’s radical alternatives to putting the kettle on!

Remember the first time I heard someone say ‘can I get’ in a bar. It must’ve been 2001 I remember it thinking how ridiculous it sounded at the time. And still does.

completely don’t understand the smooth thing- It implies it’s how you come across to others rather than making things easier for yourself

“I’ll get the salmon” sounds ridiculous and I’d probably do an involuntary eye roll if I heard that

Do you really think the OP needs one more of these?

"I'll get the salmon, please. With an involuntary eye-roll and a side order of condescension" 😀

Brilliant! 👏

This thread is ridiculous!

Why? At least the OP now knows she was previously misinformed about English grammar.

The most ridiculous thing about this thread is the number of people coming on 200 posts on and thinking no one else has mentioned the ‘I’ll get’

OP gets it - read all her posts and you’ll see she accepted it in good grace

put the pitchforks down!!

@TheHateIsNotGood - can I ask what it is about my “I’ll have the salmon please” that sounds as though I am about to go and fish for it? I’m not trying to start an argument; just genuinely baffled about that.

And to the poster who asked how I ensure I’m never late (I genuinely never am); the answer I think is partly down to where I live, partly down to my personality and obviously a bit of luck. I live centrally in a small city. Nowhere that I might have appointments for or have to visit for work is more than a 20 minute drive away and many places are walkable. So a mix of driving/walking the fairly short distances. And I pretty much always allow double the length of time I need when travelling in the city (so for my son’s regular hospital appointments I allow 30 mins to drive rather than the 15 needed and if, as we usually are, we are early we have a cup of tea together in the nice hospital cafe).

For longer journeys out of the city I take one train earlier than I need to. I have a book and my tablet with me so can find work to do or read to use my time.

I hate being late; it’s a priority for me not to be, so I plan accordingly.

I can see people find it difficult to understand but "to get" does not mean "to fetch". Sometimes it does but it ala has different meanings including to receive (as in "I wonder what I'll get for Christmas").

Normally people can tell by context which meaning is correct but I can see this is too difficult for a lot of people on this thread.

It is true that "can I get" is not the usual English form of asking for something but it's not grammatically wrong.