One of the many British diseases is surly and unwelcoming service.

They may choose to misinterpret sluggish or surly service as further evidence of imminent national catastrophe, but I try to look at the larger picture.

The House vote followed four hours of floor remarks in which legislators voiced pent-up frustration with an agency notorious for long delays, surly service and antiquated computers.

He has had his share of meals ruined by unbearable noise, by surly service, by incompetent kitchens.

Long accustomed to indifferent, even surly service, New York shoppers are being won over by consistently - some say annoyingly - friendly sales help.

Immigrants and employers have complained of huge paperwork backlogs and surly service, problems that Mr. Ziglar has promised to fix.

The biggest issues he sees: delays and route cutbacks, closely followed by unfriendly and sometimes surly service.

Talk to Canadians about flying Air Canada, and chances are they will offer a litany about bad food, lost luggage and surly service.

Indian passengers also complained of slovenly conditions on planes and in airport terminals and of indifferent and surly service.

On the minus side, the slightly surly service in the hotel restaurant conformed to pre-1989 East European stereotypes.