Do sit down

[tree123]

source: House of Cards--British TV drama

A strange young female journalist goes to see Francis Urquhart who is Party Whip in his home. They have a talk in his study. (She wants to grasp political tips from an insider, and he wants to make use of her to publish news that favor him personally.)

He says to her 'Do sit down', and then offers her a glass of whisky.

---

I learnt 'sit down' is not that polite because it is (or sounds like) an order.

I don't think Urquhart is not trying to order her to sit down in this context. It's not impolite, but slightly implies he unintentionally shows he is politically superior, sophistcated in front of a young girl. I assume he wouldn't say 'do sit down' to Prime Minister.

And 'do' weakens the sense of being order. Correct?

Do I overly interpret the wording?

 

[tedmc]

No, you are reading too much into it. "Do sit down" is neither impolite nor patronising. It is better than saying just "sit down", but I think "please sit down" would be better.

Have I over-interpreted the wording?
sophisticated

 

[GoesStation]

[STRIKE]Do[/STRIKE] Am I [STRIKE]overly[/STRIKE] over-interpreting the wording?

Yes. Urquhart is using an alternative to "Please sit down." The Prime Minister would be less likely to wait to be asked, but Urquhart might use the same words with him or her if they did.

 

[tree123]

No, you are reading too much into it. "Do sit down" is neither impolite nor patronising. It is better than saying just "sit down", but I think "please sit down" would be better.

Have I over-interpreted the wording?
sophisticated

I didn't know 'please sit down' works.:up: I learnt I should say 'have/take a seat' etc.

 

[GoesStation]

"Do sit down" is neither impolite nor patronising. It is better than saying just "sit down", but I think "please sit down" would be better.

They're both fine. Urquhart has a somewhat eccentric speaking style that leads him to prefer his wording.

 

[jutfrank]

The use of do before imperatives is characteristic of British speakers of a certain social class. Urquhart belongs to such a class.

Do sit down is more polite than simply Sit down.

 

[Rover_KE]

In a different context, and with an exasperated tone of voice and annoyed expression, you'll hear a parent saying to noisy children 'Do be quiet, you three! I'm trying to watch 'Sex and the City!'

 

[tree123]

The use of do before imperatives is characteristic of British speakers of a certain social class. Urquhart belongs to such a class.

Now I can understand that the director is trying to tell the audience about the class.

When the journalist Mattie comes in, the camera rolls from the upper staircase where Mrs Urquhart is standing slantly with a haughty facial expression, looking down on her and greeting 'Good evening'. While Mattie is looking at her, the camera rolls from the first floor to the staircase.

Mr Urquhart says 'My wife likes to listen to Wagner in the evening', and then leads Mattie to his study. -- I think except for other music fans, opera is the taste of the upper class.

I especially like the applications of the camera's angles. :up:

Sorry I am being off the topic.

 

[tree123]

Hello GoesStation,

In Post 3, you've corrected my grammar as below:

[STRIKE]Do[/STRIKE] Am I [STRIKE]overly[/STRIKE] over-interpreting the wording?

In Post 8, I orginally wrote 'Sorry I am off the topic'.

Just now remembering your correction, I've changed the tense to 'I am being off the topic'. So is it correct now? (I'm not sure I understood the usage of the tense.)

:?:

 

[GoesStation]

lIn Post 8, I orginally wrote 'Sorry I am off the topic'.

Just now remembering your correction, I've changed the tense to 'I am being off the topic'. So is it correct now?

The original version works better.

 

[tree123]

The original version works better.

Is the tense sactioned?

Is it possibly to explain why you say 'I am off the topic' is better. I am not always off the topic. The present tense is when I keep doing something from the past to the future.:-|

 

[PeterCW]

In a different context, and with an exasperated tone of voice and annoyed expression, you'll hear a parent saying to noisy children 'Do be quiet, you three! I'm trying to watch 'Sex and the City!'

Exactly, it all depends on tone of voice. In writing it is a simple polite phrase but in spoken English it can be polite, patronising or commanding as required.

 

[GoesStation]

It's worth noting that we rarely if ever use this construction in American English.

 

[Tarheel]

It's worth noting that we rarely if ever use this construction in American English.

That is true. It's distinctly British.