The use of 'good afternoon' as 'goodbye'

[Tom]

Hi

I just watched French Lieutenant's Woman in which a person said "good afternoon" to his mistress in the sense of "goodbye". It was news to me. Doesn't good afternoon mean "hi" only?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

"Good afternoon" can also be used as a formal sort of "goodbye". I wouldn't expect to hear it used that way very often on this side of the pond, though. Instead I'd say you're more likely to hear "Have a good/great afternoon" as part of a goodbye in the afternoon.
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[Tom]

Thanks, Amy; so, can we also use "good morning" implying "goodbye"?

Tom

[Alan]

Hi Tom,

It's possible to use the salutations like Good morning/afternoon/evening as a means of saying goodbye but at the same time it does sound quite formal. Note also that Good night would usually be used as a farewell remark.

Alan
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