You won't forget me

Status
Not open for further replies.

sb70012

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
Conversation:

Alex
: I wonder if you could please do me a favor.
John: I'll try.
Alex: Well, I've been waiting in line here for a really long time now, and .... well .... I'd like to use the bathroom. Do you mind?
John: No problem, no problem. Go ahead.
Alex: Thanks a lot. You won't forget me when I get back, will you?
John: (haha, laughing), of course not. Don't worry about it.

Source: Summit 2, by Joan Saslow and Allen Ascher, Printed in the USA, unit 6, Travel hassles and experiences.

Hello,
Does the bold written part have spacial meaning? Why does he say like that?

Thank you
 
Last edited:

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Conversation:

Alex
: I wonder if you could please do me a favor.
John: I'll try.
Alex: Well, I've been waiting in line here for a really long time now, and .... well .... I'd like to use the bathroom. Do you mind?
John: No problem, no problem. Go ahead.
Alex: Thanks a lot. You won't forget me when I get back, will you?
John: (haha, laughing), of course not. Don't worry about it.

Source: Summit 2, by Joan Saslow and Allen Ascher, Printed in the USA, unit 6, Travel hassles and experiences.

Hello,
Does the bold written part have spacial meaning? Why does he say like that?

Thank you

No, it doesn't have any "special meaning". It means what it says.
 

sb70012

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
No, it doesn't have any "special meaning". It means what it says.
Then why does he say like that?
I mean, if you notice, John laughs after Alex say "You won't forget me"
I know what "You won't forget me" means but in the context given it's irrelevant to say something like that.
That's why I am confused with.

Thank you.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
I know what "You won't forget me" means but in the context given it's irrelevant to say something like that.
If we restricted real-life conversation to relevant, meaningful utterances, very little would ever be said.
 

charliedeut

VIP Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
In this case, Alex needs to go to the bathroom. He is asking John to keep his place at the line (which he has been holding for a long time), and as a joke he is telling John "You won't forget me", meaning John will give Alex his place in the line back once Alex returns from the bathroom, because John will still remember Alex's face (that is, John will not have forgotten him, and the fact that the place was his).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top