say when. When!

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Tedwonny

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Jan 10, 2012
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Chinese
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Do native speakers really say this? I have attended many functions and when native English speakers kindly offer to pour drink for me, I've never heard of them use this.

Also, I do say 'when' rather then 'yes/enough thanks...', right?

thanks
 
Yes, it can be used in any number of "pouring" situations.

You can say anything to indicate that you have been given enough. Like "OK," or "Stop" or "that's good."

Actually saying "when" is more of a comedic thing to say.
 
It is used, but it's not really very formal so you wouldn't hear it at, say, a work event. It's more used with children I think.
 
[AmE - not a teacher]

I've heard the response "when" used at casual events and at the most formal of events. It's not "formal", of course, but it's whimsical, and no one would fault you for using it, IMO.
 
I don't use it comedically or only with children. I use it all the time. Whenever I pour wine, I say "Say when" to the person whose glass I am pouring into. They either say "When" or "That's enough" or something similar. However, I always use "Say when" and have been doing so for most of my life.
 
emsr2d2 said:
I don't use it comedically or only with children. I use it all the time. Whenever I pour wine, I say "Say when" to the person whose glass I am pouring into. They either say "When" or "That's enough" or something similar. However, I always use "Say when" and have been doing so for most of my life.
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Just to be clear I meant that actually answering "when" is kind of joke-y. To ask someone to say when is common.
 
SoothingDave said:
Just to be clear I meant that actually answering "when" is kind of joke-y. To ask someone to say when is common.
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Ah, I see. Fair point. Yes, I probably "When" but with a slight laugh too.
 
SoothingDave said:
Just to be clear I meant that actually answering "when" is kind of joke-y. To ask someone to say when is common.
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:up: It's a bit like the old 'Say goodnight Dick' line. Dick isn't supposed to say 'Goodnight Dick'.

Saying 'when' is jokey in the same way, misinterpreting the command as 'Say "When"' rather than ' Say [i.e. tell me] when [I have poured enough].'

Another common response is 'Wo'.

b
 
Tedwonny said:
Do native speakers really say this? I have attended many functions and when native English speakers kindly offer to pour drink for me, I've never heard of them use this.

Also, I do say 'when' rather then 'yes/enough thanks...', right?

thanks
Click to expand...
And to answer your first question, yes. Possibly you haven't heard it because the traditional usage - 'Say when'/'...When' - involves recognition of a gentle joke - which perhaps dissuades people from addressing it to language students. (I'm not sure I would.)


b
 
BobK said:
:up: It's a bit like the old 'Say goodnight Dick' line. Dick isn't supposed to say 'Goodnight Dick'.

Saying 'when' is jokey in the same way, misinterpreting the command as 'Say "When"' rather than ' Say [i.e. tell me] when [I have poured enough].'

Another common response is 'Wo'.

b
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Probably "whoa," like you'd say to a horse.
 
sorry what's 'whoa' Is it possible to write a phonetic transcription to it? I find it really interesting when you say this word/sound is said to a horse, as if it could understand this word/sound.
 
Tedwonny said:
sorry what's 'whoa' Is it possible to write a phonetic transcription to it? I find it really interesting when you say this word/sound is said to a horse, as if it could understand this word/sound.
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Whoa | Define Whoa at Dictionary.com

The dictionary is our friend.

Do you think it strange that an animal can be trained to "understand" some commands? I don't. Animals may lack the fullness of language, but higher animals can surely learn to associate certain sounds with certain behaviors.

My dog knows when you say his name and he understands enough to act guilty if you ask him if he's been eating the cat food.
 
My dog clearly knew the word for "walk." So we started spelling it. I can't pretend she could spell, but she soon learned that "double u" also meant "walk."
 
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