WTF Does 'Stay As Long As You Like' Actually Mean?

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68e78346160000611e483504.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Person visiting friend" data-caption="Person visiting friend" data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="Mantas Hesthaven via Unsplash" />Person visiting friend</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p>You know what sends chills down my spine? The phrase “stay as long as you like” – I get the feeling the person saying it does not actually mean I can live rent-free for the next decade at their home, but I wonder if a one-night stay under those terms would seem offensively short.</p><p>(See also: “let me know if there’s anything I can do to help”. <em>Anything?</em> Really?)</p><p>According to a Reddit thread shared by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/ProofDazzling9234/" aria-label="Author: ProofDazzling9234" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false">u/ProofDazzling9234</a> on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false">r/AskUK</a>, it seems I’m not alone. </p><p>“I have British friends in the UK who invited me to stay with them when I visit the UK. They said I can stay with them as long as I want but I don’t want to overstay my welcome,” the Singaporean poster asked.</p><p>“Do they really mean that?” </p><p>We asked the founder of <a role="link" href="https://www.etiquetteexpert.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-vars-item-name="Etiquette Expert" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="68c8096de4b0a42499c75f7d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.etiquetteexpert.org/" data-vars-target-content-type=