QUITE!

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20450, 3 July 1928, Page 12

QUITE!

The expression ‘‘ quite nice ” is one which has always filled me with a quite unreasonable irritation (says a writer in Answers). And yet perhaps not so unreasonable when we consider the inference. To be “ quite nice ” or to have had “ quite a nice time ” implies that a person is not nice enough or that they have not had a nice enough time. I have accordingly been amazed recently at the uses to which this little word ‘‘ quite ” has been put. We have most of us met the woman who; when asked her opinion of another,,says, with deprecating inflection, ‘‘Oh, yes, quite nice.” and we would most of us rather she said outright, “ Oh. I can't stand her.” To sav of a friend’s new hat that it is quite nice is equally damning. She might instead have chosen one which suited her very well. It 'would take a very sure conceit to have turther confidence in that hat! Such things, you may say, are questions of honesty, and surely if one wishes, one may speak one’s mind. Of course! But there are occasions when one may not speak one’s mind—for instance, when you are accepting or have just accepted a person’s hospitably. Take for example: the other evening I formed one of a number at last-minute, pot-luck meal A motoring outing had been delayed, and we all, at the invitation of one of the party, tumbled into what happened to be the nearest house to,stay the pangs of hunger. We were warned beforehand that we were welcome to the whole larder, though it might not contain much. In the end we sat down to a feasi of bacon, sausages, and eggs. A man there, used to what he probably considered something more aristocratic, said tiat it was all *' quite nice, thank you,” when asked if everything was all right. Our erstwhile hostess—a so-gen-erous provider for the expected guest—was hurt, though she did not show it. Her natural pride in her entertaining suffered a fall. She and all she was offering seemed suddenly inadequate. I know ; for at the end of an evening and a meal over ■which I had taken'considerable pains, I was considerably surprised the other night to learn that rny guest bad had “quite a nice time.” Indeed, thought I. For sometimes besides having a slightly deprecating flavour, that “ quite ” also holds a faint flavour of surprise Didn’t expect to, but we did. sort of thing ! You either enjoy yourself thoroughly or not at all. If your evening has proved a half-hearted one, don’t proffer halfhearted thanks. If you must be honest and you can’t say you’ve had a lovely time, you can; at -least, say, > “ Thanks awfully for having me,’’ or nothing at all. which'is at least a wholehearted measure, and one which most people would prefer.