# Things people say - maybe too often **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** movies, liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [January 10, 2024, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877 "2024-01-10T07:08:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/21 "2024-01-10T13:31:57Z")
**“Can I be honest with you?”** Another expression people use to much. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/22 "2024-01-10T13:36:22Z")
And don’t forget… **“Been There, Done That.”** (with optional addendum, **“Got the T Shirt.”** ) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/23 "2024-01-10T13:41:37Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > **“Been There, Done That.”** (with optional addendum, **“Got the T Shirt.”** ) It is what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/24 "2024-01-10T13:53:40Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Virtually every day on the local news (yeah, I know) there is a story or three about a murder. > > I know I’m morbid, but I always play a mental game of Spot the Cliche. My cliche is when the murderee was “brutally” murdered. Has anyone ever been described as “gently murdered?” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/25 "2024-01-10T13:59:58Z")
None of these are as overused as many common words. That’s how language works, some people craft their phraseology with deliberate care, others communicate efficiently and effectively for the 99% of communication which benefits from compendious verbiage. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/26 "2024-01-10T14:29:57Z")
A phrase I had never heard until I met my neighbor a few years ago, and now I’m sick of is **Do you smell what I’m stepping in?** Meant as “Do you understand what I’m getting at?” Once was funny. Weekly is too much. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/27 "2024-01-10T14:36:39Z")
Today, it seems, every crisis is an “ **existential** crisis.” An ordinary old crisis won’t do. It must be an **existential** crisis. Watch any news or discussion program and you will hear this word used over and over again. And it seems mass murders are always **needless**. Has here ever been a mass murder that was needed? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/28 "2024-01-10T15:36:14Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > It is what it is. I like to say _ **it’s what it’s** _. Or, sometimes, _ **'tis what 'tis** _. mmm ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/29 "2024-01-10T15:45:58Z")
A UK advertising slogan that survives in fairly common usage is **[Does what it says on the tin](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Does_exactly_what_it_says_on_the_tin)** Or [**Marmite**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/marmite) One that didn’t seem to last was **[got an ology](https://youtu.be/NK5-2fPyCjA?feature=shared)** ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/30 "2024-01-10T16:47:45Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > “ **Obvious/Obviously** ” > If something is obvious, there should be no need for the speaker to say that. By saying the word, the speaker is degrading the listener, assuming they’re stupid or not paying enough attention. If something is easily perceived, there should be no need to use this word. In my experience, they may be trying to avoid _being degraded_ by the listener; like they’ve had someone reflexively shout ‘DUH!’ at them one too many a time when they state something that is obvious, but would also be nitpicked if they omitted it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/31 "2024-01-10T16:49:49Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > **“Can I be honest with you?”** > > Another expression people use to much. Yeah, I think it means ‘I want to say something that I realise is unnecessary and hurtful, but I feel compelled to be a dick today, just like yesterday.’ ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/32 "2024-01-10T16:57:18Z")
My automatic response to it is, “Can I stop you?” ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/33 "2024-01-10T16:59:18Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > In my experience, they may be trying to avoid _being degraded_ by the listener; like they’ve had someone reflexively shout ‘DUH!’ at them one too many a time when they state something that is obvious, but would also be nitpicked if they omitted it. Yah, that could be. But, if it’s obvious, there should be no need to state it (otherwise, it’s not obvious). I guess using it or not using it makes assumptions, which is another “can of worms”. Another one that came on strong for the pandemic: “ **Out of an abundance of caution** ” It’s like people are looking for a more clinical way to say something that’s fairly simple - couldn’t we just say “careful/carefully”? > [@Mangetout](#): > > > [@dorvann](#): > > > > **“Can I be honest with you?”** > > > > Another expression people use to much. > > Yeah, I think it means ‘I want to say something that I realise is unnecessary and hurtful, but I feel compelled to be a dick today, just like yesterday.’ Yeah, I prefer to initiate that conversation instead with “You know, you can always count on your friends to tell you the brutal truth…” ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/34 "2024-01-10T17:02:06Z")
You may add “this is not who we are.” I beg to differ, this is exactly who we are. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/35 "2024-01-10T17:08:21Z")
Why are you “begging to differ?” Why not just say “I disagree!” ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/36 "2024-01-10T17:10:00Z")
At the end of the day Not to put too fine a point on it Soeaking beyond my pay grade While I twist and churn screaming g in my head just get to the point man! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/37 "2024-01-10T17:33:57Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Yah, that could be. But, if it’s obvious, there should be no need to state it (otherwise, it’s not obvious). I guess using it or not using it makes assumptions, which is another “can of worms”. The other context I find myself saying it is just when I catch myself having said something that really is obvious to everyone, and didn’t even need to be stated. It’s like a little incantation that makes me feel less silly for blurting out a description of how gravity still exists, or rain makes things wet, or whatnot. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/38 "2024-01-10T17:37:47Z")
Having more than one way to say things is a feature of the English language, not a bug. (Someone may now express their disdain for the ‘feature not bug’ thing) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/39 "2024-01-10T17:40:20Z")
I’m still annoyed by the misuse of “begs the question.” “This begs the question, where did he gets all those cats in the first place?” No, it doesn’t. Even as much as I have a heart for descriptive language, _that’s not what that means,_ dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877/40 "2024-01-10T17:44:56Z")
I think that battle is pretty solidly lost now. If that’s what people think it means, that _is_ what it means. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-say-maybe-too-often/995877.md?page=3)