With thousands of foreigners coming to London for Olympics (July 27-Aug 12), many tourists might be left baffled by Britons' evasiveness and superfluous words with double meanings, the Daily Mail said, as Britons are habitual of using various unnecessary words they dont mean.
According to an American survey, rather than getting to the point, Britons skirt around issues and use long-winded phrases to hide what they really think leading to confusion and arguments.
Foreigners aren't the only ones who have trouble understanding, with a third of Britons struggling to decipher what people really mean and 46 percent wishing Britons could be more direct talking like New Yorkers, known for their straight talk.
The survey found three quarters of Britons admitting to regularly using the word "maybe" when they meant "no" while three fifths often say "I'm fine" when but actually thinking "I'm not, stop asking".
Other phrases include saying "it's OK" while thinking "I am really disappointed" and telling workmates "could we consider some other options?" while intending to say "I don't like your idea".
According to the New York Bakery Company, over a lifetime Britons use 1.7 million unnecessary words - 60 words every day, 420 needless words a week and 21,840 a year. But when it comes to family and friends, they have no qualms telling their true thoughts.