The Phrases “I’ll say goodbye then” & “I’ll say good night then”

[Ro_Laren]

I recently re-watched all the Downton Abbey episodes and noticed that instead of simply saying “goodbye” that various characters would often use phrases like “I’ll say goodbye then” or “I’ll say good night then.” I thought it was interesting because when someone uses one of those phrases, it seems to me like they are referring to a future action of when they will two seconds later say goodbye or good night. However, for them when they say those phrases they mean goodbye or good night. I’ve never noticed anyone saying this in America, but maybe some do. Or is this a merely English phrase / phenomenon?

 

[Greylock Crescent]

I've lived all of my life in New York State (and much of it in NYC) and I've heard people say, "Well, that's it, then," in complete finality to a situation. In those cases, the use of "then" merely reinforces the finality of the action.

 

[Gov Kodos]

I've lived all of my life in New York State (and much of it in NYC) and I've heard people say, "Well, that's it, then," in complete finality to a situation. In those cases, the use of "then" merely reinforces the finality of the action.

Same in Massachusetts, maybe it's a North East thing, then?

 

[WillsBabe]

To me those phrases are used when someone is reluctant to say goodbye, or if their leaving is a decision that isn't their own, because, for instance, protocol dictates it, or because they want to leave and are giving the impression that they have to. I have heard them said, probably more in the past than now. I'm from the UK.