Business-buzzwordy? Non-native English? Eighties-retro? Cool?
2007-01-30 00:32:44 · 8 answers · asked by Goddess of Grammar 7 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
I usually reach for my dictionary (the incomparable OED), but I'll just wing this one because it's about impressions. Excellent implies 'excelling', which is something we do when we are 'doing something' very well. So the whole implication of 'Have an excellent day' is slanted towards 'have a day where the things you do go very well for you'. So you might say it to someone who is about to go fishing, or chasing some sporting or academic success. There's also a little bit of a taste of 'command' - as if to say 'have an excellent day, because I expect you to'. Again it's that emphasis on excellence = achievement = competition = work/study/win.
When it's used by virtual strangers without any 'context' or expectation it might sound 'false'.
If you wanted to put the emphasis on fun, or joy or some 'unproductive' good time you might instead say 'have a great day'. This doesn't imply any assessment of excellence or expectation, and sounds more like a 'gift'. But that's just my impression.
2007-01-30 00:59:37 · answer #1 · answered by nandadevi9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's one step above 'Have a nice day'. Maybe i'm being a little synical here but when the cop who's just written you a ticket tells you to have an excellent day I just can't hear the sincerity there. The first time I heard these expressions was when I went to the US from Australia. I couldn't believe how friendly everyone sounded. Now, as with certain hamburger chains etc, it's found itself into our culture. Maybe some people mean it, but not 100%. It's a way of telling you it's time for me to serve the next customer, and please remove your groceries from my counter, I'd say. It's even more humorous when it's actually night time. Harsh, hey. Anyway, have an excellent day.
2007-01-30 00:49:35 · answer #2 · answered by davidstrempel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on who used it and the tone, people would respond differently. It would not come under the 'cool' category and would probably sound forced/sarcastic.
2007-01-30 00:48:44 · answer #3 · answered by Confused 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Business-buzz wordy but it varies person to person..
2007-01-30 01:16:37 · answer #4 · answered by Rain 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds a bit sarcastic, sorry.
2007-01-30 00:42:17 · answer #5 · answered by sparkleythings_4you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a nice day. sounds better and realistic.
2007-01-30 01:16:24 · answer #6 · answered by fallinglight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would categorize it with business-buzz wordy.
2007-01-30 00:42:23 · answer #7 · answered by couty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too stupid to sound serious.
2007-01-30 00:54:17 · answer #8 · answered by Psychotic Clown 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋