Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[alex2006]

Hi,

I have come across this expression "what can I do you for?" just recently in "The IT crowed" TV show. As I understand it's supposed to be a kind of joke with some double meaning.
Could somebody please explaine the meaning and implications of the joke?

Also in the show a guy picks up the phone and says 'ello instead of hello, is it a kind of accent or another joke?

Thank you very much for your help.

Kind regards,

Alex

[Anuradha Chepur]

I don't know about this TV show or the double meaning, someone else will tell you. I know what it means straight in day to day office parlance - it's a polite way of asking "Why did you come?" or "Why did you call?"