British phrase that has a very different meaning in Australia

An expat living in Melbourne has revealed a common expression that has a very “different meaning” in Australia – but not everyone agrees.

A UK woman has identified a common phrase that has a “very different” meaning in Australia than her home country – but not everyone agrees on its meaning.

Georgia Davies, a British expat who has been living in Melbourne for five years, recently claimed there is “one thing you should never say to an Australian”.

The content creator, who regularly dives into the cultural differences between life Down Under and that of those who live across the pond, claimed there’s a common phrase that could incite violence in Australia, whereas in the UK it simply means “hello”.

“So as a form of greeting in the UK, it’s normal to say, ‘you alright’ or even just ‘alright’ for short,” she said on TikTok.

“You’re not actually asking them if they are alright, it’s just another way of acknowledging someone.

“But in Australia, asking ‘you alright?’ is apparently seen as some sort of threat or starting a fight.”

But not everyone agrees with her translation, claiming the Ms Davies has got the Australian definition “all wrong” – and after moving from London to Sydney myself back in 2011, I have to agree.

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Georgia Davis has shared a phrase that has a very different meaning in Australia than in the UK where she’s from. Picture: Instagram/georgiaedaviesx

In an admission that would horrify my besties back home, I’ve long abandoned my roots, and no longer greet my Aussie mates with “ya alright”. Not because people think I am itching for a brawl, as Ms Davies suggests, but because most people look at you in complete horror – and for good reason.

To an Aussie, as I’ve learnt over the years, it comes across as an incredibly personal and invasive question – and is most definitely a conversation that shouldn’t be happening in a public place or started so casually.

“As an Australian I would probably just say ‘no I’m not alright’ and start crying,” one explained under Ms Davis’s video.

“I feel attacked when someone says to me ‘you alright’. Like why? Do I not look alright?” another commented.

“I’m Australian, and if someone said ‘you alright’ I’d reply with ‘yeah why?’” someone else agreed.

This is the reaction I get every time I’ve made the faux pas Down Under, and after it happened one too many times, I’ve since learnt to steer clear of it altogether.

The British expat has been living in Melbourne for five years – and reckons ‘you alright’, a common phrase for ‘hello’ in the UK’ is seen as aggressive in Australia. Picture: Instagram/georgiaedaviesx

But Aussies have disagreed, stating it’s because it is a personal question, it can be land poorly. Picture: Instagram/georgiaedaviesx

“My boss is British so I’m used to her saying ‘alright?’ when saying hello, but it was very jarring when we first met,” another detailed in a response I knew all too well.

Others explained that Ms Davis might have got the expression mixed up with “you right?” or “you right mate?”, which one said was “more aggressive”.

“It’s basically saying your doing something or behaving in a way that isn’t right,” the Aussie shared.

“You’re thinking of ‘you right?’ ‘You alright’ sounds like a question, like you’re asking us if something is wrong,” added someone else.

As another claimed what Ms Davis was saying was simply “not true”.

While there were many who argued it’s all about the way it is delivered, noting tone and infliction as affecting whether or not it comes across as “offensive”.

“I’ve been offended and my response is always, ‘yeah are you!? (aggressively),” admitted one.

“I started a job in Aus and every morning I’d come in and say ‘morning, you alright?’ After a couple weeks my boss asked me to stop because it made him feel uncomfortable,” shared another.

Ms Davis has amassed a large following sharing her observations about the cultural differences between the UK and Australia – and even has a dedicated Instagram account detailing her new life abroad.

The popular content creator, who is originally from York in northern England, hit headlines at the start of the year after sharing her thoughts on the differences between men in the two countries.

“Can we all agree that dating in Australia is just not it – at all,” she said in a video shared in February.

“Here’s the problem – Australian men are gorgeous, stunning, exactly my type. Give me a man with a moustache any day of the week.

“However, why are you guys all so shy? I never realised coming from the UK just how confident the men there are.”