{"id":2274,"date":"2022-03-02T18:13:14","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T18:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=2274"},"modified":"2022-03-02T18:13:14","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T18:13:14","slug":"you-are-more-than-welcome-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/you-are-more-than-welcome-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"You Are More Than Welcome \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you just finish dinner at a friend\u2019s house and thank them for the meal? If they respond with \u201cyou\u2019re more than welcome<\/em>,\u201d what do they mean? Is it possible to be more than welcome? Is that a thing? This post unpacks the mean8ing and origin of this saying.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

If someone tells you that you are \u201cmore than welcome<\/em>,\u201d they are using hyperbole to extend their gratitude to you for thanking them for something. For instance, if you\u2019re entertaining guests and they thank you for the delicious dinner, you could say, \u201cyou are more than welcome<\/em>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

No one knows why people use this over the traditional \u201cyou are welcome<\/em>,\u201d but most people feel that it\u2019s just a way to overextend the gratitude involved with the original saying.<\/p>\n

Phrases like \u201cThank You<\/em>\u201d and \u201cYou\u2019re welcome<\/em>\u201d are in the category of \u201cPhatic Speech<\/em>.\u201d These are polite commentaries that don\u2019t have any other reason to express gratitude. So, adding the \u201cmore\u201d into the saying of \u201cyou\u2019re welcome\u201d isn\u2019t necessary, and a redundant form of the phrase.<\/p>\n

It adds no value to the original saying, and there is no reason for anyone to assume that it is a more gratuitous format than the original version. Using \u201cyou are more than welcome<\/em>\u201d does nothing to serve the fact that you were waiting for the person to thank you for whatever it was you did for them.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

Sandra: \u201cThank you so much for helping me finish the setup for Allan\u2019s birthday. I don\u2019t know what I would have done without you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marsha: \u201cYou\u2019re more than welcome<\/em>. I\u2019m glad we managed to finish before everyone arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n

---<\/p>\n

Astrid: \u201cThanks for your help with the project. You helped me meet the deadline and avoid losing my job. I owe you one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chloe: \u201cYou are more than welcome.<\/em> The last thing I want is to see you get on the wrong side of the boss. We need you on the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

---<\/p>\n

Alex: \u201cI appreciate you giving me the heads up on that sale; I scored an unbelievable deal on that GPU.\u201d<\/p>\n

Damon: \u201cYou are more than welcome<\/em>. Just remember to let me know when you come across the same scenario.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

No one knows the origin of the expression, \u201cyou are more than welcome.\u201d English-speaking societies have relied on manners and politeness since the 900s. However, the addition of the word \u201cmore\u201d didn\u2019t start appearing in language until around the 1950s.<\/p>\n

In response to someone giving them gratitude, women looking to express hyperbole would add \u201cmore\u201d to provide more weight to the pleasantry. It\u2019s still a common and polite pleasantry used in everyday speech.<\/p>\n