Use of "no worries" by young people?

[NormaSnorks]

Here's an exchange between me and DS (aged 21) after some nagging on my part to get him to confirm some dates he's free for a family event, and he's finally sent them:

Me: Thanks. I've saved them in the family calendar so you'll remember to keep them free until confirmed. [We use a shared online calendar]

Him: No worries!

Or this when he's coming home after dinner:

Me: Will you want any food later?

Him: Yes please - will be back about 8.30

Me: OK. Have put some aside for you in fridge.

Him: No worries!

In both cases this left me feeling annoyed? I felt as if I'd been doing him a favour and what I expected was more a 'great, thanks!' but what I got was a response telling me not to worry, as if I'd done something wrong?

Urgh. I don't get it?

I think this is exactly it.

Like 'hi guys!' to a group which includes more than just males...it may have started off meaning that but it's evolved.

But OP’s son says it when SHE is doing HIM the favour, whereas in your example,YPU have done the favour…
It’s not about the phrase itself, but the fact that it’s used the wrong way round

The first example, you started by saying 'thanks'. He replied 'no worries'. Which is I think the usual way of the exchange.

Isn't he just using it instead of 'OK'?

I use it instead of 'you're welcome' but think it can be used as 'OK'.

That's how my DH uses it.

I’ve had a couple of american friends who reply ‘sure’ to an offer or a favour instead of ‘yes please’ or ‘thanks’ and it made me feel so instantly disrespected and annoyed, although clearly it wasn’t intended to as they were nice and otherwise polite people. Someone in my family I would definitely tell that I didn’t think it was the right word… actually I’d repressed the memory but I think I had to tell my partner not to do this fairly early on.

I have been thinking that it came from Australia, so the South Africa comment is interesting. I don't use it myself, being ancient, and when I hear it I feel as if I want to reply, "Yeah, well I'm not worrying about it." However, it isn't ungrammatical so it's a newish thing that I cope with ok.

Well, you guys, or should I call you lovelies, as most shop assistants do nowadays, you all have a nice rest of the day.

Nice thread.

Came here to say don't come to Australia!

Your son is using the term correctly. It’s just a cheerful way to wrap up a conversation implying that all parties are on the same page and instructions have been understood so there is literally nothing to worry about. It’s being used here like a thumbs up emoji

To me, 'no worries' simply means 'okay, that's fine' / 'okay , not a problem'.

It does my head in! At a restaurant, when you’ve been given the wrong dish. ‘No worries!’ I’m not WORRYING, I’m COMPLAINING. I feel like saying that but my family would be mortified if I were that curmudgeonly.

I know someone from South Africa (in her 30s) who says that absolutely constantly!! Usually I don't care about things like that but it's too much.

I often use “no worries” in different contexts. Like if someone says sorry and I’m trying to say that it’s not a big deal, I’d say “no worries”. Or if I’m being thanked for something, I’d say it to mean that it’s not a problem at all etc.

Exactly! That’s how I use it as well.

Language changes and evolves. If it didn't, we'd all be saying "Forsooth, Good Sir"! And the like.

Not a thing to get annoyed/ irritated by imo. It's just different.

Paul McCartney's Dad famously said of the song "She Loves You"- "It's a very good song, but can't you say 'Yes, Yes, Yes'?!

@StMarieforme I wonder if Bob Dylan's father said the same thing about Lay, Lady, Lay

I don't think you can change the language of the young. Social media means it changes frequently.

DS says "real" to agree with something. It drives me bonkers.

Young waiting staff now routinely say no problem when you say thank you for something. Like when they set down the meal and you say thank you, they say no problem. I know it isn't a problem, it is your job to bring the meal to me. Everything, no problem. Or they say perfect everytime you order something. Eggs benedict, perfect in a fake charming way. Latte, perfect, olives, perfect. That seems to be a thing at the moment.

I'm 40 and I would say the same in these conversations. I say no worries all the time.

In fact, thinking about it, it's a habit I picked up from my Dad who is 65. He's always said it too.

I am fed up with foreign call centres saying the phrase "not to worry" when I am in the middle of complaining about something that has caused me a lot of hassle.

DD also uses the phrase "calm" instead of OK. As well as "real" instead of "I agree with you".

Like @ASighMadeOfStone , I'm pretty sure I picked it up from 'Neighbours' in the 80s.

I hear 'no problem' a lot and, in Welsh, 'dim probs' which means the same.

In France, if I said 'Merci' to someone for something, I'd often get 'c'est normal' back, i.e. 'it's nothing, think nothing of it, you're welcome'.

That's how I use and interpret it too, it's just a generic way of responding to say you are OK with something, especially if you are really not that bothered (in the case of the calendar mine would have been thinking "mum makes such a fuss, it would have been fine" and the meal it would have been "if you're cooking anyway then I don't mind but I'd have been quite happy making a sandwich").

I have found my tribe !

I hate it when used by waiting staff in pub or restaurant e.g. "Can I have the peas with no butter please " "No worries" . I'm not sure why it winds me up so much, I just feel it would be better to respond "Of course" or "Absolutely " or something positive.