“Yeah, I mean”…

Why does just about everyone who is interviewed on TV start their answer like that? “Yeah, I mean…” (then comes their answer). It seems to be a built-in part of starting a sentence in English; maybe other languages too, IDK.


Is “Yeah, I mean” the language equivalent of our “Have a nice day,” as departing words with someone?  I’m guessing probably 90% of goodbyes end with that automatic phrase, whether it’s in person or on the phone.  Like you have any real control over whether your day will be nice. 😉  Still, the sentiment seems cordial.  Ya gotta give it that.


“So,…” is also a sentence starter.  So (short pause)... then comes the answer.  I think “So” is the new version of the old “Well, … ”


Then there’s the fastly rattled off “No-yeah, I mean….”  Or its reverse, the “Yeah-no,” if the opposite feelings are felt about the question.  Talk about covering your bases!  Genius. 😁


Are these (what I’d call) “automatic phrases” now just a given part of the English lexicon?  The language zeitgeist?

Is it just to give the brain a “running head start”? Every nano second represents some additional thinking time, you know.

Are we all just parroting each other?  Monkey hear, monkey say?


  • What are some other built-in phrases that we language users use?

  • Do any in particular “get your goat?


(by Primal “observer of people and other things” Soup, hoping you have a nice weekend)

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