Question
Updated on
2 Jan 2015
- Simplified Chinese (China)
-
English (US)
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English (UK)
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Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong)
Question about English (UK)
"The British tourist is always happy abroad so long as the natives are waiters."
I don't get it, could anybody help me out?
"The British tourist is always happy abroad so long as the natives are waiters."
I don't get it, could anybody help me out?
I don't get it, could anybody help me out?
Answers
Read more comments
- English (UK)
"British tourists like foreign waiters" is what this sentence is saying. I think it is a joke, but unfortunately I don't understand why it is funny.
- Simplified Chinese (China)
Me neither, don't see why it's funny. Thank you harima!
- English (UK)
Basically what it's saying is that a British person is perfectly happy to go traipsing through the deepest darkest jungles of Africa so long as when he gets there there's an elegantly-suited butler waiting with a tea set (i.e. all the comforts of home).
It's not a joke, it's satire. =P
Highly-rated answerer
- English (UK)
But if that's the case, and a british person is in Africa etc, then would the "native waiter" be an African person? If they meant the waiter should be british, then they shouldn't say "native"...
I don't get it.
- English (UK)
Yes, the native waiter would be African. Civilise the natives and whatnot.
Highly-rated answerer
- English (UK)
- English (UK)
The modern American equivalent would be eating at McDonalds wherever they go. =P
Highly-rated answerer
- English (UK)
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@belthazar @hariama thank you for your explanations! I see what you mean, but I still have some doubts:
I wonder is there any part that implies that it has something Arica? Or it could be any other places? Is "native waiters" only referred to African or it can mean the locals in the place you're talking about?
I wonder is there any part that implies that it has something Arica? Or it could be any other places? Is "native waiters" only referred to African or it can mean the locals in the place you're talking about?
- English (UK)
Arzen - belthazar just used Africa as an example. "Natives" would mean the local people of that area, wherever they may be.
- Simplified Chinese (China)
Haha gotcha! Many thanks! You guys are really nice!

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