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I was wondering: What is the origin of asking someone to say "when" (to mean "enough") while they are serving food or beverages?

Spencer
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Bryan Petty
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    I've always assumed it to mean 'tell me when to stop pouring'. – Kate Bunting Jan 17 '20 at 17:25
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    I've always supposed that it started as a joke based on something like "I'll tell you when that's enough". – Colin Fine Jan 17 '20 at 17:25
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    You don't ask someone to say the word when, you ask them to tell you the time to do it. "Say when..." is merely a phrasing for that request. Answering with a literal when is merely a little joke. – Mike Graham Jan 17 '20 at 17:33
  • It depends on the person who's pouring the liquid saying "Say when" (a short way to ask the other to tell them when to stop, as @KateBunting said), and this being facetiously interpreted as "Say 'when' ". – Rosie F Jan 17 '20 at 17:35
  • NB Also, when being sworn in, you should not repeat I, state your name when the bailiff prompts I, state your name. – choster Jan 17 '20 at 17:36
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    *Say when* - a formula used when pouring someone else a drink, i.e. say when you want me to stop pouring. https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/kroro3q#hf32opa – user 66974 Jan 17 '20 at 17:56
  • Bryan, you can ask (excellent) questions like this, on the ELL site, which is made for the purpose. – Fattie Jan 17 '20 at 18:18

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