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Are you not already being kind by saying thank you to begin with? I read the comments on this site What's the deal with thank you kindly?, and I guess that I am still pretty confused as to the meaning of this.

Obviously, if someone says "Thank you" in a very sarcastic manner then they aren't intending to be kind, but I mean in the general sense of showing gratitude to someone for something, is there a way to do this unkindly? If there isn't a way, then why would someone say, "Thank you kindly"?

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  • What's unclear about FF's ' "Thank you kindly" has the sense of "with goodwill and enthusiasm; very much", coupled with his 'Many might consider it dated or even archaic today'?
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Mar 9, 2015 at 19:07
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    What about "Thanks, I guess."?
    – Ian MacDonald
    Mar 9, 2015 at 19:09
  • You mean something other than the tone of voice? Or saying "Thank you" when the other party has just done something that was clearly not beneficial to you?
    – Hot Licks
    Mar 9, 2015 at 19:09
  • (There is nothing special about "Thank you kindly" vs a simple "Thank you", or "Thank you very much". They are just variations to avoid monotony.)
    – Hot Licks
    Mar 9, 2015 at 19:11
  • I guess avoiding monotony, to me, is the only real reason to say thank you kindly. Thank you for your reply, Hot Licks. Yes, something other than the tone of voice or being sarcastic...to show gratitude to someone by saying thanks in an unkind way.
    – SUM GUY
    Mar 9, 2015 at 19:18

2 Answers 2

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"Thanks, but no thanks." or maybe "Thanks... not."

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  • Both of those aren't really showing thanks or gratitude in the true meaning of "Thank you".
    – SUM GUY
    Mar 9, 2015 at 19:21
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    So, you want it to be "unkindly" but not too unkindly??? What level of unkindliness are you looking for?
    – Emma Dash
    Mar 9, 2015 at 19:33
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The best way to offensively/sarcastically say "thank you" would be to put it in context. Taking the wrong context is one way to insultingly thank somebody. Here are some examples:

  1. You are given a second helping of food even though you're obviously done eating: No thanks, I've already eaten. Your sarcasm emphasizes the obviousness of your satiety.

  2. A promoter is pushing a handbill into your face: No thanks, I'd just recycle it. If you wanted something stronger, change the context: No thanks, I've had enough fiber today, or with a positive spin, Thanks, I've always wanted one of these! (This last option may be the best, as a lot of these handbill promoters must keep working until they have distributed their whole stack of fliers.)

  3. A panhandler asks for change. (Nonsensically) saying no thanks here suggests that you're not paying attention and serves as a mild insult. If this gets a negative response, state that you thought the panhandler was selling something and that you don't have any money anyway.

  4. I suppose, if you're repeating somebody who just said thank you kindly, you could say something ridiculous, like thank you with sprinkles on top, or, in the right company and with the right grin, thank you unkindly! This would work best with a vigorous handshake, as if the action you're thankful for was life-changing.

  5. Underplay the importance with a distraction: Thanks, that was great, especially the part where you—did a Tesla just drive by? Man, I want one of those.

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