Etymology Journal ยท O
Oh, you really shouldn't have!
Meaning
- This is the standard polite response when receiving a gift. It expresses humility and surprise even if you were secretly hoping for the item all along.
Polite, humble
Used in a sentence
- Oh you really shouldn't have, this sweater is exactly what I wanted.
- When she handed me the flowers, I said oh you really shouldn't have.
- Thanks for the dinner invite, but oh you really shouldn't have gone to all this trouble.
The backstory
This is a traditional display of social etiquette dating back centuries to Victorian standards of humility. It serves to show the giver that you are not greedy or demanding.
Heard in
Nationwide
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