I am not sure to be honest but maybe its an informal version of sir. I also find being called boss annoying by people I am not the boss of. I guess it could be the continuation of the downgrading of the English language.
Tim, nice but dim, strikes again [video=youtube;NC0IJQ_s7No]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC0IJQ_s7No[/video]
I try not to use mate but I'm always winding my mates (deliberate use) up cos I use dude. They hate it. (All the more reason to use it, I say.)
I use it mainly when I can't remember someone's name! Or to wind a stranger up a bit more when angry with me! Come on mate no need to be like that! Works a treat every time , "IM NOT YOUR MATE"
I used to call everyone BOSS (hence my nickname) but it turned out that now everyone calls me BOSS! .....not shy of saying "Mate" to try and make the conversation more friendly but if the person turns out to be a prick then he won't be my mate for much longer
Presumably a hang over from plumber's mate, carpenter's mate etc. A term shouted out by craftsmen to their junior gofers where speed was more important than a name. The multiple use is interesting: genuine friendship, aggression, forgotten someone's name that you should remember, brief interaction with stranger in various contexts etc.
I used to work somewhere where everyone was mate...still pretty sure it was just a cop out from actually remembering names.
I dunno mate. I call my US bosses 'boss' a lot, because it embarrasses them, being that I'm older than them (no ambition) and they are all egalitarian, whilst simultaneously being almost as hierarchical as the Japanese. Perhaps we should use 'squire' more, nudge nudge, know what I mean, Guv? But what do I know. I posted my single best ever post today. Killed the thread dead, already off the first page.
