[Vocabulary] So long as a way of saying good-bye

[englishhobby]

Is "so long" a widely used expressaion in British English? Can it be used by a student to a teacher at university? And by a teacher to a student?

 

[Rover_KE]

I've not heard it for years. It seems to be on its way out.

I'd advise not using it at all.

 

[MikeNewYork]

It is still in use in AmE.

 

[Barb_D]

When I was part of a massive layoff at work, I wrote "So long and thanks for all the fish" on my whiteboard before I left. While there were few people left to see it, those who were The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy fans appreciated it.

 

[englishhobby]

It is still in use in AmE.

How unexpected! I thought it was just a dated British English phrase.;-) Is it used by elderly people only or by all ages in American English? Can it be used on TV or radio?

 

[emsr2d2]

With the exception of certain rules about swearing, there are no rules about what can be said on TV or radio.

 

[Peedeebee]

I suggest that most Brits would understand "so long" very well, and they would almost never say it. If they are over 50 they probably think of it as American.
They watched many American films through childhood...
If they are youngsters they perhaps don't worry whether it's Br or Am. But still they probably never say it.
(There's an American folk song called So long, it's been good to know you,.....)

 

[Raymott]

Yes, and:
"So long, Marianne"- Leonard Cohen
"So long, Frank Lloyd Wright" - Simon and Garfunkel
And apparently these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Long

 

[Tdol]

I wouldn't use it in the teacher/student contexts.

 

[englishhobby]

I wouldn't use it in the teacher/student contexts.

Does it mean something like farewell in BrE? What is its closest synonym?

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes. Also goodbye (formal) and cheerio (informal/chiefly BrE).

 

[lotus888]

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye...

Although archaic, I think we still use it in a more melancholy way:
So long, it's been a real pleasure knowing you.

Sometimes, we use it in a mean-spirited way:
So long, it was nice knowing ya. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.


--lotus