This reminds me of a story that once happened to me (and I am sure some of you can relate to).
One Shabbos in a borough of New York, I was walking down the street when I passed a woman on the street.
Without breaking stride I proceeded to greet her with a generic “Good Shabbos”. I noticed that her facial expression had changed to an equal mix of foreign and perplexity. Another 30 feet or so, I came across a male where I once greeted the individual with my generic “Good Shabbos”.
As I passed the second person, the first person had stopped for the male to catch up, in order for the woman to ask, “de veist dus mench?” (You know that man?)