Useless phrases?

[Newmind]

Hi, let's talk about 'useless' phrases. I mean those are phrases that don't carry a lot of meaning, they are there to buy you time to think of an answer, to link parts of a sentence or simply to fill a blank. What do you think about those phrase, do you use them and if so when? Here are some examples to show you what I mean:
- come to think of it
- by the way
- saying that there
- you know
- like
- well

and so on. Any ideas?

[Englishfan]

I have recently watched an interview with the British pop singer Dido. I think it was about her participation in the Band Aid concert for the G8 summit. Anyway, I was quite shocked at the rate she would use the phrase you know. It occurred in almost sentence she spoke. She definitely can sing better than she can speak

[Andreana]

Hhhmm, not sure if those phrases are really useless. After all they somehow came into being so there must have been a reason for that. For example, come to think of it means now that I really think about it. The other one saying that there I have never come across before. However, there certainly are phrases that we often use without thinking about their meaning. My favorite one is to be honest or honestly. Does this imply that most of the time the speaker is dishonest and now they are making an effort to be honest?
_________________
A smile will open doors

[Guest]

The phrases I like least are not really and actually. What do you mean when you say not really? For example if you ask you do you like sports? And you say not really I know you don't want to answer my question directly and you don't like sport. Why not simply say I don't like sport?

[SaschaT]

[Rich7]

One of my favorites is " for that matter." It is normally used to embellish what you are saying at least that's what I think.
Also, "for one" is used a lot for Americans, what the meaning is I don't know for sure.

[Andreana]

[Andreana]

[SaschaT]

[Mosteque]

For me, one of the most annoying phrases like that is" and then I was like... or .... and then it was like....... we were like....bla bla bla it appears in almost every sentence when you are talking with a young american
_________________
obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit

[Rich7]

[Andreana]

Here is another phrase I would classify as a filler: Needless to say. If something is needless to say why say it then in the first place?
Rich, I'm not sure I can follow your comments on my signature. Can you elaborate?
_________________
A smile will open doors

[Rich7]

I'd say that losing a gold medal sounds ungrateful since you're winning a silver one which is remarkable especially if you are in an olympic competition.