There is one phenomenom in conversation that I assume everyone has experienced multiple times, but that I don’t know of a term in any language of:
Person A is at a fixed location. Person B joins A for conversation.
After some time, the conversation looks to have run its course. A would much rather do something else now. B indicates (verbally or by body language) that he/she is going to leave…
… but does not, resuming the conversation instead.
After some time, the conversation looks to have run its course. A would much rather do something else now. B indicates (verbally or by body language) that he/she is going to leave…
… but does not, resuming the conversation instead.
After some time, the conversation looks to have run its course. A would much rather do something else now. B indicates (verbally or by body language) that he/she is going to leave…
… but does not, resuming the conversation instead.
After some time, the conversation looks to have run its course. A would much rather do something else now. B indicates (verbally or by body language) that he/she is going to leave…
… but does not, resuming the conversation instead.
etc., etc., etc.
Is there any pithy term for this situation/behaviour? It’s not just B being a bore, but being a specific kind of bore (one periodically raising then dashing A’s hopes of being rid of him/her).
I can’t help with a name but I can think of one reason why it happens. Leaving tends to invoke the “leaving conversation” where you pass on your good wishes to friends and family and make a time to see each other again, this can prompt further real conversation which delays the actual leaving.
Substitute “leave” for “retirement” and you have Brett Favre…
I had a friend use “leavus interruptus” once to describe something getting in the way of him leaving to go somewhere, but it isn’t a real phrase that I know of!
I’ve read that co-dependent people will invariably do this. Have trouble terminating a conversation. Not that I … I mean, no, look, this thread’s been nice, but… we really should do this again … like next week. What’s next week like for you? We’ve got … oh, that’s right, the wife’s brother is coming for a visit … you don’t really want me to drag him along … I’ve been wondering what to do to entertain him … the wife’s working, so guess who’ll be on Uncle Don duty. So I thought we’d catch a Cubs game … are they still selling tickets at that bar … which bar would you say has the best burgers? He’d love some local color … some good local microbrews and a great burger, like the Oakcrest … sorry, we really do have to run … the sitter’s probably wondering if we’re coming home, although usually we’re getting home long before most people, because we miss the kids … why am I worrying? We’ll be folding our tents just as the sitter’s making plans to start her evening. We’ll get home, and she’ll flip open her phone and see how soon her friends are going out … so we will do this again … just not next week, remember, Uncle Don duty … although you can join us for a burger … naah, I wouldn’t wish that on ya …
Although in 1926 she announced her retirement after her final performance at Covent Garden in London, she gave farewell performances for three years. She gave so many farewell performances that a saying was coined which is still used today for someone who simply can’t say goodbye - ‘More farewells than Nellie Melba’.
