“You all right?”
“What a strange thing to ask,” thinks the American in England.
Of course, I’m all right. Do I look injured, bloody or beaten?
You see, in America, when there’s an accident — someone falls down the stairs, gets hit in the head with a rock, or stabbed with a fork during an exciting dinner conversation — we say, “Are you all right?”
But here in England, they say it when you walk into a store, when you wake up in the morning, or just about any other time.
It’s their way of saying “hello.”
And what do you think you should say, when a Brit asks you this question?
The reply could be :Thank you. I’m fine. And you ?
Fine thanks. How are you?
Not bad. Never better. Bearing yo under the strain!
This question sounded awkward to me too! I think one should say, “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.” They say “thank you” all the time, for which I got really annoyed. Now I thank people all the time and I don’t like it, because, I think, it has a bad connotation to it, like “leave me alone” vibration and rhythm.
England use formal language and American generally talking less formal, like friendly. Both forms are good.
I reply: “yes, I’m all right and you, what’s up? (LOL)