"Don't say I never give you anything."

[bunny de fluff]

Okay this occurred to me , a non-english speaker, that this phrase is quite intriguing. I don't get this phrase at all. Why would you want to make sure that you give things to people and they remember it, so that they won't say you never give them anything? Am I missing something here?

[Shidan]

It's common phrase in america, unsure about other english speaking countries. Generally it's meant as a sarcastic joke of sorts, though not really one anyone laughs at, yet everyone still says it. Goes hand in hand with its sibling phrase: "Don't say I never did anything for you."

Not sure where it comes from originally. But you'd be hard pressed to find someone in america that hasn't heard it a lot in their life. I would imagine it doesn't translate well into other languages though.

[Remember No Russian]

It's not even a joke, just a remark. Because people often say "You never help out" or "You can't be bothered to do (x) for me..." So people say it as a not so subtle reminder that I do in fact do ♥♥♥♥ for you.

[Shidan]

Personally I've never heard it meant literally like that. But I'd imagine that's the origin of the phrase.

Probably depends on where you are in the world though.

[Radiosity]

Originally posted by Shidan:

Personally I've never heard it meant literally like that. But I'd imagine that's the origin of the phrase.

Probably depends on where you are in the world though.

Common here in the UK as well. Mostly intended to be snarky. Like giving someone a couple of pennies (basically worthless) with a 'don't say I never give you anything'.

[bunny de fluff]

Thank you all for the replies. My country does not have this saying, it's interesting.

[bunny de fluff]

I'll put it under the passive-aggressive joke list.

[Cattrina]

Yeah we Finns do not use that either. Although it seems to be similar with one of our own: ''loan a tool to a brother, claim it back from a nephew'

[bunny de fluff]

Originally posted by Cattrina:

Yeah we Finns do not use that either. Although it seems to be similar with one of our own: ''loan a tool to a brother, claim it back from a nephew'

The existence of this phrase almost suggest to me that I should always try to give something to my American friends so that they "won't say I have never give them anything", I think this is a good excuse for giving people present and gift.

[liosalpha]

The tone does make or break this phrase

its also used as a icebreaker to acknowledge that it has been a while since speaker given something (back)
but i have heard it used as a forcefull statment that you should be thankfull for this or that you owes them something back,

we use it in dutch too, literal translated.

[bunny de fluff]

Originally posted by liosalpha:

The tone does make or break this phrase

its also used as a icebreaker to acknowledge that it has been a while since speaker given something (back)
but i have heard it used as a forcefull statment that you should be thankfull for this or that you owes them something back,

we use it in dutch too, literal translated.

Maybe some people used it to guilt others.

[iansomniac]

It doesn't mean anything. Americans.......we're all stupid.

[bunny de fluff]

Originally posted by iansomniac:

It doesn't mean anything. Americans.......we're all stupid.

I would not go so far as to say they are stupid though. I could never say a country is stupid. Maybe some of the people are stupid but never the whole country, whichever country it is. I am not a smart person myself so : )

[tebow baggins]

Originally posted by bunny de fluff:

Originally posted by Cattrina:

Yeah we Finns do not use that either. Although it seems to be similar with one of our own: ''loan a tool to a brother, claim it back from a nephew'

The existence of this phrase almost suggest to me that I should always try to give something to my American friends so that they "won't say I have never give them anything", I think this is a good excuse for giving people present and gift.

its said in america usually as sarcasm, after someone gives you something with little effort or is a small gift- maybe you ask a coworker to give you a pencil he might say this as humor. the humor is not great because the statement is old and overused.

[bunny de fluff]

@scare: I see. There is still much left to learn about humour it seems. Thanks.

[Hatsune Neko Gaming]

Originally posted by bunny de fluff:

@scare: I see. There is still much left to learn about humour it seems. Thanks.

Lt Commander Data would agree with you