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I can only think of formal occasions when I have heard "thank you" spoken this
way. Is this the case? Could it perhaps also be spoken sarcastically to have
the opposite effect?
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2013-03-16T14:50:03.707
11476
2013-03-16T17:11:26.473
question
set-phrases formality
Is 「お礼を言う」 considered formal?
Yes, a sarcastic use of this phrase is certainly possible (isn't it the case
with almost any phrases?), but it won't have the opposite effect.

One sarcastic use of this phrase that I can think of is:

  * someone makes a nasty remark about you
  * you say お礼を言わせてもらう because it reminds you why you hated him

In other words, when anger works as a motivation. It's probably more common in
comics and games than in the real life, but there you go.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-16T17:11:26.473
11477
2013-03-16T17:11:26.473
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answer