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 Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:26 am You know Dido? |
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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 
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englishfan
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| Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:37 pm Useless phrases? |
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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?
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Andreana
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| Thu Jul 07, 2005 13:28 pm Not really and actually |
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| 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? |
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| Tue Jul 12, 2005 18:00 pm Not really and actually |
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| Anonymous wrote: | | 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? |
Doesn't "I don't like sport" sound very harsh compared to "Not really, to be honest - you know"?
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SaschaT
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| Tue Jul 12, 2005 20:03 pm Uhmmm |
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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.
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rich7
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Andreana
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| Wed Jul 13, 2005 0:28 am Uhmmm |
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| rich7 wrote: | | Also, "for one" is used a lot for Americans, what the meaning is I don't know for sure. |
I think it's I for one, isn't it?
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Andreana
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| Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:57 am Not really and actually |
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| Andreana wrote: | | SaschaT wrote: | | Doesn't "I don't like sport" sound very harsh compared to "Not really, to be honest - you know"? |
Hhhmm, you do have a point here but then again (hey, that might be another of those useless phrases!) it boils down to your not liking sport no matter how you phrase it. Yes, you can say: Well, come to think of it, actually, to be honest, it's probably safe to say - I think you wouldn't exactly call me a sports fan. |
Yes, but we are humans, no robots. Language is not only about efficient communication but always has a subtext, which expresses affections, emotions, sentiments. To which extend you incorporate these phrases into your language in my opinion depends on personal taste, educational background, intentions and the like.
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SaschaT
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| Wed Jul 13, 2005 15:50 pm Useless phrases? |
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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
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Mosteque
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| Thu Jul 14, 2005 17:26 pm Uhmmm |
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| Andreana wrote: | | rich7 wrote: | | Also, "for one" is used a lot for Americans, what the meaning is I don't know for sure. |
I think it's I for one, isn't it? |
Yes, exactly Andreana thanks and by the way I prefer it this way: "you do not lose gold you win silver" 'cause those who say so have never won anything.
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rich7
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| Sat Jul 23, 2005 22:29 pm Needless to say |
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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?
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Andreana
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| Mon Jul 25, 2005 20:08 pm Don't get me wrong... |
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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.
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| What does 'mindcircus' mean? | Come "to" or "at" an intersection |
