I'm Good

Nowadays I hear the expression "I'm good" used in conversation: (1) As a negative response to offers of service, typically at the table, such as "Can I get you anything?" or "Would you like another drink?"

It took me a while to realize that "I'm good" or "I'm OK" is a negative response.
This usage still puzzles me. In form it sounds like a polite rejection, but in substance is not:
"Would you like a cup of coffee"?
"No, I'm good without your coffee. Your coffee will make me worse".

Nowadays I hear the expression "I'm good" used in conversation: ... I get you anything?" or "Would you like another drink?"

It took me a while to realize that "I'm good" or "I'm OK" is a negative response. This usage still ... not: "Would you like a cup of coffee"? "No, I'm good without your coffee. Your coffee will make me worse".

Following them with 'thank you' largely solves that problem, I think. 'I'm fine, thank you' is another version.
I wouldn't expect to hear 'I'm good' in response to those questions, here in Ireland. Also, the question itself is generally worded 'Are you all right?, here. One hears it all the time.

Charles Riggs
- Primarily northeast US upbringing,thus having an American accent and having a greater familiarity with AmE, with 48 years of experience with it,than with BrE or Hibernian-English. - Currently living on the west coast of Ireland; passingly familiar with Hibernian-English expressions, having been here for ten years. No discernable Irish accent.
My email address: chriggs/at/eircom/dot/net

Nowadays I hear the expression "I'm good" used in conversation: (1) As a negative response to offers of service, typically ... the question "How are you?" when it's being used as a greeting. How old and how widespread are these usages?

Here in Hawaii, I first heard it
about five years ago. The usage
is very common now.
Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Arcadian Rises typed thus:

Nowadays I hear the expression "I'm good" used in conversation: ... I get you anything?" or "Would you like another drink?"

It took me a while to realize that "I'm good" or "I'm OK" is a negative response.

It's not really negative - it's a positive assertion that the speaker is satisfied with the current situation.

David
==

Nowadays I hear the expression "I'm good" used in conversation: (1) As a negative response to offers of service, typically ... the question "How are you?" when it's being used as a greeting. How old and how widespread are these usages?

Here in Hawaii, I first heard it
about five years ago. The usage
is very common now.
Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Following them with 'thank you' largely solves that problem, I think. 'I'm fine, thank you' is another version. I wouldn't ... in Ireland. Also, the question itself is generally worded 'Are you all right?, here. One hears it all the time.

I recollect the appropriate answer is 'If I was any better I couldn't stand it'.

John Dean
Oxford

Nowadays I hear the expression "I'm good" used in conversation: (1) As a negative response to offers of service, typically ... the question "How are you?" when it's being used as a greeting. How old and how widespread are these usages?

I don't know how old it is, but it's used by some radio talk show hosts here.

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Arcadian Rises "Would you like a cup of coffee"? "No, I'm good without your coffee. Your coffee will make me worse".

Not at all! It's like saying, "I'm fine", "I'm content how I am", "I don't need anything else to make me better". It's like if you orgasm once, you can orgasm again right away. But, sometimes people are good after just one orgasm. It's enough pleasure for the time being. A second orgasm wouldn't make you WORSE, but it's just not necessary.