I was taught to use "not at all" as a rather polite, standard reply to "thank you". However, I don't see it being used at all nowadays. Can I still use it? Would it be widely understood? Should I be aware of any differences between using it in British, American, Canadian, and Australian English? (As in, are there better alternatives in any particular dialect?)
Edit: A (German) friend of mine who spent a year studying in Edinburgh says "not at all" is still fairly common there.
I'm not sure how "Not at all" sounds in response to "thank you". I guess I'd have to hear it in context. I think I would understand it.
Some alternatives which may connote the same polite dismissal might be:
Don't mention it.
No problem.
My pleasure.
It would sound a little old fashioned or formal to me. Still usable, though. (I'm in Ireland.)
It is, of course, still the standard in French and Spanish: de rien, de nada.
This may be overly obvious, but in American English, saying "you're welcome" is certainly polite and standard.
The NOAD reports that not at all is a polite response to thanks, but I have never heard it being used.
I heard no problem more frequently.
I believe if someone says, 'Much obliged,' (which seems to contain more gratitude than 'Thank you') the response both logical and polite is, 'Not at all,' since the first person is saying, 'I am indebted for the kindness and thus owe you a favor,' while the second replies, 'Please, no, you don't owe me anything.' But if the first person says, 'Thank you,' for the second to answer, 'Not at all,' is illogical: the first says, 'I am grateful to you,' so such an answer would imply, 'No, sorry, you are not grateful,' which of course is not what is meant, or understood. Still, I believe it is understood in the idiomatic way, and thus it is still polite. 'You're welcome,' means, 'I did it for you gladly and will gladly do it again.' 'No problem,' though doesn't have such connotations of generosity, implying only that the action depends on its being particularly easy, something one might do only because he didn't have to go at all out of his way or to any expense. And of course, 'My pleasure,' is suitable in any case. Conclusion: Let's start saying, 'Much obliged,' more often, i.e. any time at least a little more than, 'Thank you,' seems necessary.
I like to use "not at all" as a response when I stress that, on my part, some activity did not require any effort so one should not thank me anything.
However, nowadays this expression tends to be less meaningful (and therefore less time used). Sometimes people are confused and ask: how do you mean "not at all"?
I guess the reason is that the expression "not at all" has a different (better known) meaning: "no, definitely not!", which sounds odd as a response to "thank you".
