 Have a nice day is a commonly spoken expression used to conclude a conversation ( whether brief or extensive ) , or end a message by hoping the person to whom it is addressed experiences a pleasant day . Since it is often uttered by service employees to customers at the end of a transaction , particularly in Israel and the United States , its repetitious and dutiful usage has resulted in the phrase developing , according to some journalists and scholars , especially outside of these two countries , a cultural connotation of impersonality , lack of interest , passive – aggressive behavior , or sarcasm . The phrase is generally not used in Europe , as some find it artificial or even offensive . Critics of the phrase characterize it as an imperative , obliging the person to have a nice day . Other critics argue that it is a parting platitude that comes across as pretended . While defenders of the phrase agree that " Have a nice day " can be used insincerely , they consider the phrase to be comforting , in that it improves interactions among people . Others favor the phrase because it does not require a response . 
