In a radio show (such as APM Marketplace), when a host interviews a guest, the conversation ends with the host saying "Thank you" and the guest saying something similar in response.
Usually it is "Thank you" or "Great to be with you" or "My pleasure".
Often they respond with "You bet", which really puzzles me. I am aware of the idiom, but even that doesn't make sense in this situation.
My questions are:
- What exactly is that supposed to mean here?
- How did it become one of the standard responses to "Thank you" in this context?
- Is it a good response to "Thank you" in real life, i.e. outside of the radio show?
Best Answer
The phrase "you bet" is the equivalent of saying "that's for sure." Essentially, the speaker is replying in the affirmative. The extension of the idiom to the context of a radio show can be interpreted to mean "you can count on me." When the radio show host is ending the interview with the guest, he is telling the guest that his time is appreciated. Replying with "you bet" is positive feedback that the guest has fulfilled his role.