Learn English – “Say for someone to do something” in colloquial AE

colloquialismsusage

In colloquial prose, is the idiomatic "say for" an appropriate substitute for "tell" in "tell someone to do something" whatever the context?

E.g.

Have I ever said for you to pretend to be someone you are not. source

We concluded the conversation with my saying for him to contact me in six months.source

Now I am saying for you to sit down…source

May I say for you to call… source

We parted with her saying for me to be safe. source

Didn't you say for him to call his probation officer and tell him he was terminated? source

I think he might be saying for us to reach out to Muslims… source

I never said for him to rot in hell, that is God's decision after death. source

It sounds like what is meant in the last example is something like "I never wished for him to rot in hell" or "I never said he should rot in hell" rather than "I never told him to."

Does this sort of more obscure meaning of "say for" have any currency in colloquial speech and writing?

Best Answer

The usage is perfectly common and natural in colloquial speech for many people, but it wouldn't be considered acceptable in more formal contexts. It's certainly no more AmE than BrE.

Generally, to say for [pro]noun to [do or be something] implies call for them to do/be [whatever]. Thus it can't always be assumed that tell is a valid substitution. OP's final construction is more likely to be used where the speaker is claiming he never said "I hope he rots in hell" (spoken to a third party), rather than "I hope you rot in hell" (words addressed to "him").

Even in OP's first two examples, it's quite possible the speaker means he never suggested to anyone else that you/he should disguise your true self/call his probation officer. Only the precise context might make this clear - but personally, if it didn't, my inclination would be to favour the told other people interpretation.