I was quite shocked.

http://i.imgur.com/4ukMv4Y.png

IS THIS TRUE, BRITISH PEOPLE?

It is.

Yeah, that's how quite works.

Depending on the context I use both. I am no native speaker, however. In most cases I guess I would use it with the meaning of "very".

I quite like to think it mirrors our two nation's attitudes to things in general.

Yeah, that's the way I use it down under as well. Quite good=pretty good.

I don't use it often but when I do it's apparently in the British context. I thought everyone used it like that :confused:

This is why I am for the separation of Amenglish and English.

The strange thing is I tend to use it both ways. Making every time I use "quite" quite ambiguous.

I feel like I subconsciously understood this but never fully understood why that word irked me. It probably isn't surprising that given that I generally use British usage of most words, I generally mean "rather" when I use the word instead of "very".

It may be a regional thing, actually; some Americans may use it to mean "very" while others mean "rather". But I dunno. I think the word's lack of specifiicity has always irked me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vivi22

The strange thing is I tend to use it both ways. Making every time I use "quite" quite ambiguous.

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After I read this thread I has a short discussion about 'quite' with Mr Shauna. It ended with us both being very confused about how we use the word, and a decision that we should stop talking about it.

We seem to use it in both ways, was the conclusion we came to before we moved the conversation onto something else.

lol British English ok

I've used it under each connotation at different times, just depends on how I feel. It's a wonderfully ambiguous word for when you're trying not to insult someone but you can't bring yourself to praise them;

"Oh yes dear, that meal was quite good." when you're really calculating the odds of you dying from food poisoning.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

I quite like to think it mirrors our two nation's attitudes to things in general.

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I quite agree.

Holy. trout.

My mind is kinda blown right now.

I'm not quite sure how I use the word in both meanings, but I do.

I always took "quite" from any English source as people being more laid back about their enthusiasm. Kind of a happy medium, if you will.

Yeah I'm quite impressed any of you Americans got this at all.

I find this quite interesting. I'm saying that while being neither american or british, so what do I actually mean?!?!?

So, basically, Brits view Americans as being just above primates on the evolutionary scale? :(

i quite eoff

Quite just means silent! You sillies :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chris

So, basically, Brits view Americans as being just above primates on the evolutionary scale? :(

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yes

Just above primates is a pretty lofty rating of anyone imo. Apart from whales.

Being viewed as slightly above primates is pretty complimentary given that an accurate view would see them as primates.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

I quite like to think it mirrors our two nation's attitudes to things in general.

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BUT ARE YOU ENTHUSIASTICALLY IN SUPPORT OF THAT THOUGHT OR JUST KINDA SORTA MAYBE GAH I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by I'm my own MILF

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

I quite like to think it mirrors our two nation's attitudes to things in general.

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I quite agree.

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SO DO YOU STRONGLY AGREE OR KINDA SORTA MAYBE AGREE.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Miriel

Holy. trout.

My mind is kinda blown right now.

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I don't even know what's real anymore.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Iceglow

Yeah I'm quite impressed any of you Americans got this at all.

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smurf off, Steve!

This makes me feel like never talking to people anymore.

I quite agree. It's pretty accurate. It can get rather varied in enthusiasm depending on the emphasis of the speaker, though. That should be fairly obvious.

Reading this thread has ironically made the word lose all meaning to me.

I always thought the English were just containing themselves so they don't look overly excited. :(

Actually I always thought "quite" was somewhere inbetween "somewhat/moderately" and "rather/very" on the scale.

The weather is quite nice if it's like... 75% nice.

Or something like that.

:shifty:

This thread makes me want to cry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Miriel

Holy. trout.

My mind is kinda blown right now.

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This is absurd. You English always do everything backwards.

How have you British also managed to screw up "quite"?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pike

I always thought "quite" was somewhere inbetween "somewhat/moderately" and "rather/very"

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But rather is quite like quite. Very is quite different.

ugh what get the smurf out of here with your weird language business

This makes the name of the show "Quite Interesting" quite interesting.

This makes me wonder what other things we Americans have been saying wrong.

Like, "you Americans are okay."

Does okay mean terrible and subhuman?