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?

She'll be apples.

There's also "il n'y a pas de quoi" which isn't slang but is a similar sentiment.

I went to Australia in early 2000's and met this guy who used to say "no drama" to absolutely everything🙄. Drive me nuts.

The similar 'no bother' or 'nae bother' (region dependent) is used here in NI a lot. It can mean 'you're welcome', but also covers something like 'well that's everything all wrapped up.' DP's dad says it a lot. As did the builder who did our loft conversion, to the point where we referred to him as 'no bother' (although it was usually twat because everything was a bloody bother for him.)

To be fair, I am far from young and have been saying it for 20+ years. I did puck it up when living in Australia for a while though. I still call a cool box an esky, but most of the other Australianisms have dropped away by now. No worries is here to stay though 😁

Oh dear Lord yes. We stayed in a nice hotel at the start and end of a recent holiday and everything was 'perfect' with the occasional 'no worries' thrown in. I felt like I was being marked on my food choices.

Jesus Christ people - yes, we all know that "no worries" means "you're welcome". The OP is not disputing that!!!!!

What she is saying is that her son is using it in the wrong context ie he is the one saying "no worries" when what he should be saying is "thanks" and in turn it should be the OP saying "no worries".

Ooh! My adult nephew does something similar and says “Sure” instead of yes please or thank you. It really grinds my gears internally, particularly when I’m politely offering him seconds of a dish that everyone around the table is probably also eyeing: “Would you like some more of the gratin dauphinois Benji?” “Sure”; it sounds like he’s doing you a favour. Fuck off Benji, I’ll be the hero instead and eat it all myself.

I always so no worries, but him using it as a way of saying thank you is a bit odd.

I agree he is using it wrong.

I am 45 and I say it all the time in the same way.

Maybe he is merely accepting of his dinner being in the fridge but thinks it should really be served to him hot?

I agree it doesn’t communicate gratitude.

He's not using it in the wrong context though, it doesn't just have that one restricted meaning, it's more a generic way of acknowledging what the other person has said.

To me it means “ok”. I certainly would not be disgruntled if a waitress said “no worries” after I ordered my food or in the OP situation either. Here in Ireland it just means “ that’s grand”.

That is brilliantly expressed .

What she is saying is that her son is using it in the wrong context

And some posters are saying 'not necessarily'. Including me.

I’m Australian and we use it all the time. It has many different meanings depending on the context, ranging from ‘You are welcome’ to ‘Thanks’ to ‘You’ve really pissed me off and I’m letting you know’. It’s all situational and tone, same as with ‘Mate’. If someone told me I was using it wrong, it would not go well.

What she is saying is that her son is using it in the wrong context ie he is the one saying "no worries" when what he should be saying is "thanks" and in turn it should be the OP saying "no worries"

Again, nope. It also means Thanks. And many other things. I’d suggest you never venture to the northern States in Australia in particular, you are likely to have a stroke😂. For example, it wouldn’t be unusual in many places there for someone to order a beer, and have the response ‘yeah, no worries’ from the person behind the bar, have the beer served across the bar to them and they would respond with a nod, smile and ‘arh, no worries’. Transaction complete😆.

On thinking about it, throwing out another use here, can be used in place of ‘Bye’. The hand up wave or head nod and ‘no worries’ means see you later/bye.

So, so many uses🤣.

Just on the topic of “young people “😂 , is it a thing now to answer the phone but not say anything? And therefore the caller ( ie mum) has to say Hello? Can you hear me?

I don't think it's as bad as many other annoying things that people say these days. Australian I think, and I keep hearing 'a big ask' which is much worse in my opinion!

Could be worse, one of the young people on my team says 'that's calm' to anything he agrees with.

Hah! Say that next time OP and he might have a think about it.