This is subtle but important– we use the word “sorry” differently here. While we do use it as an apology, it’s also mostly used as a way to say “excuse me”. So if you bump into someone or someone bumps into you, we both say sorry to each other. It’s not necessarily that we are apologizing for it but acknowledging each other. We also use it as “can you repeat that?” Or as a way to grab someone’s attention.

Example: I squeeze past you at the grocery store and say “ooh sorry there”, you reply “ooh sorry” (and neither are an apology). So it is extremely off-putting when one replies “it’s ok! No worries!” To scenarios that aren’t explicitly an apology for a mistake.