T minus 3 days and counting.

[baratron]

As some people have asked, here's the link to my wish list. Only get me something if you're a close friend and can afford it, please.

So this isn't a totally pointless livejournal entry, something that's been bothering me for a few days. In French at school, we learned the phrase "Excusez-moi, je descends a la prochaine." as something to say on public transport when you're trying to get to the doors. ("Excuse me, I'm getting out at the next stop"). Right. So, I have spent many, many hours in my life on buses, tubes and trams, in English-speaking and French-speaking parts of the world, and never, ever have I heard anyone use this phrase in either French or English. I've heard lots of "Excuse me", the occasional "'Scuse me, I'm trying to get out", and the odd sarcastic "Let the passengers off first please!". But I've never heard anyone say "Excuse me, I'm getting out at the next stop" - let alone having the other person reply with "Moi aussi" ("Me too").

So I'm just wondering whether anyone here has ever heard this phrase used on public transport outside of a French lesson. Yep.

Comments

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I've never heard anyone say that in English or any other language (though I guess if that happened I wouldn't really be able to tell since I don't have much knowledge of langages other than English)--"Excuse me" accompanied by standing up, shuffling forward (or attempting to) is most typically.

Ocasionally when someone obviously getting out at the next stop is too agressive in their moves forward (like pretty much pushing me out of the way) I'll say something (none too politely) to indicate "I am also getting off here" and that they should chill out, as I (and often many other people) am also getting off at the next stop (so they should stop being pushy and follow the flow rather than push past us all prematurely).