"We should meet up"

[Emilia26]

I've been living in the Uk for 1 year (excuse english) and a few days ago I decided to tell a coworker that I would miss our chats and that we could meet some day or grab some beers as he is leaving the job soon. We have only worked together for two months and I thought he was interested in me (I detected some signals but know I'm confused...)

His reply was "haha of course, we definitely should", and then keep talking about job stuff.

I think it was a polite way of saying he's not interested in arrange anything with me, but the word "definitely" puzzles me. It sounds very enthusiastic. It may be a cultural difference lol because I really thought he liked me but people have said to me that before and never really action it.

Can I be sure he has rejected me and move on?lol

What you said to him he may take as you being polite and not serious. Send him a text and try to arrange something!

I told him that in a text, that " I will miss our chats a lot and that let know if you want to meet o grab some beers some day :)" the emoji is important haha. We just sent messages to talk about work so I took the step of talking about meeting up. Maybe you are right but I don't how to be more direct

I remember he made an important mistake during his first month and he thought I would ask him to do more work as compensation but I was understanding so I didn't. He told me "thanks a million, you are so perfect". Another day he notice I had got my hair cut and touched it... I know that this is a little bit like a teenager thoughts haha but sometimes it's difficult to me differentiate between kindness and true interest.
In my country men are more direct or they are less kind if they don't are interested in you

I think it's up to him to make a move now.

Yh if he's got your number leave it to him ( but don't wait and pine forever)

Update: today was his last day at work and when we were saying goodbye, he told me that we could meet some day continue with our weird conversation, quietly and almost without looking at my face, without enthusiasm. I had assumed that I was not interested and I'm very shy, so I just replied "okay okay, alright (while smiling falsely), and then we said goodbye. I'm not sure if he is also shy and really wanted to tell me that or is again politeness.

Another thing that for me is new in my social circle is meeting people who sing in the church. He does it. I don't know if that means he's very Catholic and traditional or not necessarily.

(He stopped using emojis the few times we had to communicate by whatsapp... relevant clue haha)

Have I made a mistake for not replying more enthusiastically and he is not going to ask me hang out?

Hmm it's a tricky one, give him a week and if he hasn't said anything try and arrange something, nothing wrong with being blunt about intentions

Just ask him! What have you got to lose??

Thanks everyone for your replies

Selladoor -

Well, I gave the first step last week and then he became a bit cold. I don't want to give the impression of being too much interested in him and lose the "magic" or "mystery" in case he likes me. I know this can sound silly, I'm quite insecure.

However, I'll arrange somenthing in a few weeks. But my doubt is still if english people could say that without real intention to meet up...

I think it's common for lots of people to say 'Yes we must meet up' as a kind of parting shot and being polite. Some people really mean it, others don't.

I'd leave it a week or two then text and ask if he is free for a drink that week. If he says no and doesn't offer any other days to suit, I'd say he's not keen.

Well, I finally decided to propose him to have a coffee and from his reply (fake excuses and finally without arranging anything) I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to meet, except for one detail.
In his reply he said that he "would LOVE to" (meet) but he can't that day etc etc etc so I wonder: is there a need to be excessively kind when rejecting meeting someone?
Or is that expression a common reply in England and isn't so kind or enthusiastic as I'd thought? or is this guy a little bit fake? Because with a simple "sorry, I'd like to, but this week I'm very busy. I'll tell you something next week :)" is enough for me. I know that I'm overeacting haha excuse my writing mistakes again!

If he wanted to, he would. He sounds socially awkward but you've given him chances.

Don't cross an ocean for someone who wouldn't step over a puddle for you.

I would tend to think that if he didn't suggest an alternative date, he was probably trying to let you down politely/gently.

I think ' I would love to ' is quite a common expression when trying to convey warmth/kindness, so I wouldn't read too much into it. I think you have done enough to show him you are interested in meeting for him, if he wants to, to suggest this without fearing rejection - so it's for him to make the next move now.

Saying 'we must meet up/keep in touch' in my experience is quite a common way of ending casual/work friendships - as a pp said, sometimes this is with a genuine intention to follow up, sometimes not.

I imagine that when it's said without any intention to meet up, it's because it's less blunt than saying a final goodbye.

The next move is for him to make, anyway.

Thank you for your advice

I really feel for you, OP!
We Brits can be a confusing bunch, in terms of our language and emotions.
I had a German friend who lived here for a while, and really struggled with it. She found the lack of directness difficult, and found it superficial rather than polite.
I would move on from the man you've told us about (I don't think he's interested - sorry), and try to hold out for someone more genuine. Someone who actually says what he means!