Gen Z don't use this one phrase because they consider it 'too formal'

Gen Z are ditching traditional polite expressions like 'excuse me?' and swapping them for blunter alternatives such as 'huh?' and 'what?' instead. Three quarters of younger Brits reckon 'pardon?' is far too formal – with one in 10 confessing they never utter this phrase whatsoever. Many instead favour more direct options like 'come again?', 'eh?', 'you what?' , and even 'I zoned out'.

According to the survey, eight in ten confess they have had to pretend they were following along with a conversation when background makes it tricky to catch the words because they are too embarrassed to ask someone to repeat themselves.

The research was commissioned by Samsung to mark the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold7, which features an audio eraser that strips away background noise from videos.

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Annika Bizon, from Samsung said: "We've all been there – trying to have a chat in a noisy bar or restaurant and ending up none the wiser.

"People are constantly battling background noise, and it's not just annoying – it can stop you from really connecting in the moment."

The study found that across all age groups, three quarters of adults find it challenging to follow conversations in busy places like restaurants and bars, with most people saying this can make the experience frustrating.

However, the issue isn't just about misinterpreting someone's words; two in three believe noisy environments can make it harder to emotionally connect during a conversation.

This often results in three-quarters of individuals feeling frustrated or let down when they miss crucial parts of the dialogue.

Moreover, 43 percent would think about recording significant social events on their mobile if they had the option to eliminate background noise later on.

Annika Bizon from Samsung commented: "It's no surprise that more people are looking to their tech to help cut through the chaos.

"That's exactly why we developed Audio Eraser – to help people capture clearer sound in the moments that matter."