Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
Unfortunately, "on your left" is just bad phrasing. All the person often hears is "something something LEFT!".
Have had something similar happen to me more than once, most people stay where they are, but a few people legitimately think I'm asking them to move to the left.
I strongly agree that this is what is happening. "some words LEFT" is just a bad passing phrase, it should never have been adopted.
The trouble is that in nearly all other situations, when a direction word is given, that is the direction we are expected to turn. In this one situation, the direction word is given and it is to be avoided. There is a lack of constancy in the use of the direction word to normal situations.
A direction word should not be being used.