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Populist_Prole

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18. I had a Polish ex-pat ask me once

Mon Apr 14, 2014, 02:42 PM

Apr 2014

He has learned English reasonably well to function here but asks me from time to time for clarifications.

He once asked, in a frustrated tone something like: Why do so many people always say "what do you mean?" when he says something? ( "whaddya mean?" ) He just couldn't get over the overuse of such a mindless phrase. He was like "If I meant something different I would say something different".

The best I could offer is that the asker of that question didn't like the previous answer but doesn't want to say so.

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22 Common Phrases We All Secretly Hate [View all] ashling Apr 2014 OP

"It is what it is." "At the end of the day." CurtEastPoint Apr 2014 #1

These two would be okay if used sparingly derby378 Apr 2014 #2

You're right. I have heard the 'day' expression used 2, 3, 4 times in a talk or radio snippet. CurtEastPoint Apr 2014 #5

Politicians use it all the time on C-Span. n/t RebelOne Apr 2014 #26

Do you mean that ashling Apr 2014 #3

maybe it depends on what "is" is --seems like I remember somebody saying that. raccoon Apr 2014 #10

Mine are the misuse of "literally" geardaddy Apr 2014 #4

What is the correct use of ashling Apr 2014 #34

Oh hrmph! geardaddy Apr 2014 #37

I am regretfully guilty of this one!.... A HERETIC I AM Apr 2014 #6

The worst is when their answer to a question begins with 'So,". Gidney N Cloyd Apr 2014 #9

Sometimes "So" takes the place of "Umm" csziggy Apr 2014 #15

We are now over a decade into the NEXT century ashling Apr 2014 #35

I always just say ashling Apr 2014 #44

Another one is when people say, "So?" UrbScotty Apr 2014 #80

I'm in the minority brooklynboy49 Apr 2014 #7

The Platitudes were a great group back in the day ashling Apr 2014 #13

Haha! nt Jade Fox Apr 2014 #20

I don't see anything wrong with "to be frank" or "to be honest" Art_from_Ark Apr 2014 #41

From now on you will have to use this in ALL of your posts ashling Apr 2014 #54

Yes, in every post Art_from_Ark Apr 2014 #81

As I recall, the flip side had ashling Apr 2014 #55

Actually, this one... pipi_k Apr 2014 #8

""I have to be brutally honest" -- usually the accent is on the brutal. nt raccoon Apr 2014 #11

Its all about the brutality ashling Apr 2014 #12

I have to be viciously truthful. lol n/t leeroysphitz Apr 2014 #40

A fairly recent one: "I know, right?" Arugula Latte Apr 2014 #14

Secretly? Nothin' "secret" about it! Coventina Apr 2014 #16

"I'm just sayin" = Lamest comeback. Ever Populist_Prole Apr 2014 #17

I had a Polish ex-pat ask me once Populist_Prole Apr 2014 #18

IMO it means "I don't understand" treestar Apr 2014 #78

"We have a lot of work to do" UrbScotty Apr 2014 #19

Add "we are going to work smarter, not harder" which is usually said by one who will do no work... Tom Ripley Apr 2014 #65

Just please, everyone, stop saying "awesome"! Jade Fox Apr 2014 #21

That would be awesome! Coventina Apr 2014 #22

I am guilty of that phrase. n/t RebelOne Apr 2014 #27

"Awesome" should be outlawed. kwassa Apr 2014 #43

"Can I level with you?" kairos12 Apr 2014 #23

"We need to talk." KamaAina Apr 2014 #24

aw f*** how I detest that one Skittles Apr 2014 #49

"But, we can still be friends!" Arugula Latte Apr 2014 #56

that's actually true, until someone owns them Skittles Apr 2014 #66

Yes! LeftOfSelf-Centered Apr 2014 #67

"In what respect, Charlie?" KamaAina Apr 2014 #25

it's not personal lululu Apr 2014 #28

It's ALWAYS personal ashling Apr 2014 #36

You know..... LynneSin Apr 2014 #29

I'm not "racist, sexist, homophobic, an asshole etc etc etc" but.......... LynneSin Apr 2014 #30

That is always followed by "some of my best friends are..." Boomerproud Apr 2014 #38

"Can I ask you a question?" Auggie Apr 2014 #31

to be perfectly frank... warrprayer Apr 2014 #32

"no problem" as a response to "thank you" aint_no_life_nowhere Apr 2014 #33

Good grief... Ino Apr 2014 #46

I don't mind that but a similar one I don't like treestar Apr 2014 #77

"Never gonna give you up," KamaAina Apr 2014 #39

Ending with "just so you know"... countryjake Apr 2014 #42

"I'm sorry for your loss" Ino Apr 2014 #45

So, what are they supposed to say on such an occasion? nt raccoon Apr 2014 #86

Something a bit more personal. Ino Apr 2014 #88

'Truth be told.' Paper Roses Apr 2014 #47

Yes! I have a client that says that too much. progressoid Apr 2014 #64

Epic GeorgeGist Apr 2014 #48

+1 Jamaal510 Apr 2014 #73

It's all good IDemo Apr 2014 #50

What a miserable person the author of that article must be KurtNYC Apr 2014 #51

On first blush, dont those conspiracy theories make you astral Apr 2014 #75

I teach college students davidpdx Apr 2014 #52

"the youth" lululu Apr 2014 #68

Curious how often we don't say what we mean. malthaussen Apr 2014 #53

"Keep in touch"... when it is obvious neither of you intend to do so. femmocrat Apr 2014 #69

" touch base with you" irisblue Apr 2014 #57

"Change is good" ashling Apr 2014 #58

I've heard some cringeworthy ones in the tech industry Rob H. Apr 2014 #59

When I lived in WA state I was always ashling Apr 2014 #60

That kind of makes sense Rob H. Apr 2014 #62

If you can think of more of these, IDemo Apr 2014 #70

Irregardless, I literally understand. Vashta Nerada Apr 2014 #61

You have Got to be shitting me, 'cause I'm totally down with that! adirondacker Apr 2014 #89

"I don't mean to be rude,but..." Go Vols Apr 2014 #63

Along with that, "Maybe I shouldn't say this, but...." usually followed by something they shouldn't raccoon Apr 2014 #87

"In a few minutes from now" bif Apr 2014 #71

Watergateism ashling Apr 2014 #72

"Jeebus", Jamaal510 Apr 2014 #74

YEAH BUT riles me the most. edgineered Apr 2014 #76

Nome sayn? n/t doxydad Apr 2014 #79

So ... JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 2014 #82

Duh--Dude! randr Apr 2014 #83

George Carlin: "it's the quiet ones you got to watch". Initech Apr 2014 #84

... Boom Sound 416 Apr 2014 #97

I don't frogmarch Apr 2014 #85

"Think about it." hermetic Apr 2014 #90

As a college professor, I am constantly encouraging my students ashling Apr 2014 #92

To clarify... hermetic Apr 2014 #93

Interesting thing about two of the phrases. Efilroft Sul Apr 2014 #91

but they had repentance ritual BlancheSplanchnik Apr 2014 #94

"really?" hopemountain Apr 2014 #95

I'm really finding "That said,..." YankeyMCC Apr 2014 #96

I mean... Boom Sound 416 Apr 2014 #98