Americans...

[bluflamingo]

As a general rule, is 'piss off' as in 'go away' something that people say in the US? Particularly in a semi-professional setting, not meaning it as an insult?

For context, if it helps at all, it's Laura Cadman talking to someone she thinks is a new arrival on Atlantis and saying, "I won't be offended if you tell me to piss off," because she thinks the other person wants to be left alone having not set anything in response to, "is it okay if I sit here?"

If she wouldn't say that, what would be the alternative? Other than 'go away,' but I'm looking for something a bit more informal.

Thank you!

Comments

[tesserae]

If you want an American to say "go away", use "fuck off" - "piss off" is British, and its connotation here in the US is anger. It might be a little more abrupt than you're looking for; somebody else might have a better expression!

[bluflamingo]

If you want an American to say "go away", use "fuck off"

Interesting. It's definitely the reverse in my experience over here - fuck off could definitely be an affectionate thing, but not in a work setting, and not between people who weren't close friends.

But cool - I love learning these differences I didn't know existed. Thank you!

[torachan]

Hmm... I don't think it sounds quite right (I have a shaky hold anymore on what's US and what's UK, but I don't think that's common usage here). We do say "fuck off", but that's a little strong for the situation you're describing. How about "get lost"?

[bluflamingo]

Oh yeah, we say fuck off as well, but it's, as you say, too strong for the situation.

Get lost would definitely work though, thank you!

[princessofgeeks]

we don't say "piss off" in the USA.

A little sharp would be "if you tell me to get lost", or a little gentler, "if you tell me to take off".

[bluflamingo]

Thanks!

I think Laura could probably get away with 'get lost' in context-she's a little sharp to begin with :o)

[tesserae]

"Get lost" is definitely better!

(How I miss my reading comprehension...)

[bluflamingo]

(How I miss my reading comprehension...)

If it helps, I'm sitting here listening to everyone say 'get lost' and thinking, well, duh, why didn't I think of that?

[auburn]

'Piss off' is kind of marginally a Britishism. I've never heard it from anyone in California anyway. I don't think most Americans would use it even in a semi-professional setting. 'Go away' is common and accepted. 'Shut up', 'shut it', 'mind your own business' or 'take a hike' would work in the context you proposed too.

[bluflamingo]

'Shut up', 'shut it', 'mind your own business' or 'take a hike' would work in the context you proposed too.

Huh. To me, take a hike sounds really rude, much more so than piss off. Interesting :o)

[auburn]

Take a hike could be rude - it would all be the tone of voice. I think it has about the same weight as 'get lost' really.

[bluflamingo]

Take a hike could be rude - it would all be the tone of voice

That makes sense. Same as piss off, except each hasn't really crossed over enough to become casual slang without the offensive undertone in the other country, I suppose.

[siegeofangels]

Depending on how joke-y she's being, you could even get away with "I won't be offended if you tell me to skedaddle" or " . . . if you tell me to make like a tree and leave."

Although that is perhaps not the tone you're going for.

[scrollgirl]

Hee! Those are good! Much more fun than simply "get lost".

[ninja007]

what about "make like a sheep herder and get the flock outta here"...

always loved that one...

[bluflamingo]

make like a sheep herder and get the flock outta here

Hee! I love that!

[bluflamingo]

I could definitely see Cadman saying skedaddle, it's a great word!

[wordwitch]

We use "piss off" in the sense of "to make angry:"
John, every time you leave on another suicide mission, you just piss me off again!

The "make like a tree and leave" is a cute-joke comment. You can find an entire passel of them here:
http://www.bored.com/jokes/0211058.html

Cadman might choose Make like an egg and beat it or Make like a fly and buzz off. Or she might just say "Tell me to buzz off; that's okay too."

[bluflamingo]

We use piss off for make angry as well - we just like to double up on these things, so we use it for go away as well. And pissed for both angry and drunk.

Heaven forbid we just use another word!

[ninja007]

We say...

"Get Lost", "Take off", "Leave it", "Mind my your business", "Get the fuck away", "Go fuck yourself", "Leave me the HELL alone", "Get the HELL away", just to name a few...

But then, I live in California. Sayings are different depending on what part of the country a person lives in.

Cadman has always struck me as a New York kinda gal...so...I figure "fuck off" would work for her...but I'm not from New York and I'm not certain what a New Yorker would say....hmmm...

[bluflamingo]

I could see her saying fuck off in a jokey way - with Lorne, say - but not with someone she's only just met.