"Useful" words - - -
 

There are some words that are so "handy" - they acknowledge that the comment was heard, but do not affirm or negate the comment - but can "say" so much with inflection!

Examples:

Oh?
Really!
Interesting -
Whatever -

What do you say when you "heard" the comment - but that's about all you want to do with/about it?

"got it" has been added to my list but it tends to tick the hubby off...lol. "whatever" also tends to be a ticker trigger...

yeah?

hmmmm

okayyyy


*humph*

well, bless your heart....

Always thought that one was a bit backhanded lol

If it's gossip - especially mean gossip - "Really? Who told you that?" Often, when I ask for a source, the conversation dies. "Really? Let's go ask him/her about that." also kills the conversation.

When I worked, it seemed that I had a reputation for not spreading rumors, gossiping. I was amazed at how many people would come to talk to me and preface their conversation with, "I know that you won't tell anyone what i tell you..." and then spill their guts about something personal that was bothering them. Most of them didn't want advice, just a trusted, non-judgmental ear.

Lucky for me and them, I never heard anything criminal from any one of them.

Interesting you would say this cathyvv. Because I didn't spread rumors people sometimes thought I didn't have an opinion. Sometimes it's difficult to know who to be faithful to by telling someone or not.

My DH and I have a few comments for things:

If some one tells us their plans (which we know will never happen). We reply with..."I'd like to see that."

If they are giving advice we don't plan on taking....."I've never thought about it that way."

I hate when people say,"Whatever",
it's almost as bad as a curse to me.
I hate when people say, I find that hard to believe. which to me means, you're lying.

I use the look-straight-into-the-eyes, "mmmphf" thing. :)

Jan in VA

All of the above....

ha, ha. my friend got onto me when asked what I would like to drink and I'd say what ever. I don't know where I picked that up but seemed to have stopped saying it.

"well dang" - depending on the inflection used - works for most any situation.

These are two of my favorites too.

My DH use to get crazy when you ask the kids how school or their day was and out would come ''fine'' in a snotty tone. For me when I would ask what he wanted for dinner he would say 'I don't care' or 'what ever' these answers were like finger nails on a chalkboard. So I didn't cook -he would have to take me out to dinner. Hey, he said he didn't care lol

Same here and "I'll be darned" is another one.

Oh Stitchit123 I like that one!! DH has been working from home and I honestly admit that I get very tired of constantly needing to plan and make meals. I think I will give him fair warning and then follow your example.

I always tell my husband they were out of "idontcare" at the grocery store and they stopped making "whatever" so I can't even get that anymore. So, ok, I will make spaghetti, he hates spaghetti. He usually comes up with something for dinner then.
For other people, I say, "I understand". Yes I understand what you are saying. I might not agree or understand how you came up with that but I understand the words that are coming out of your mouth. You can take it anyway you want.

What's the matter with the truth? If I don't agree with someone I'll just say "I don't agree with that" but you are entitled to your opinion.

Apparently I don't need to say much at all.....according to my loved ones, the raised eyebrow is generally enough.

Hey I liked all of the above! LOL

It's meant to be, in modern times. It truly used to be a blessing for a sweet heated person.

My son-in-law always replies- Yes I see what you mean. LOL He is blind!

Here, too! :)

My nose wrinkle also seems to be effective!

__________________________________________________ _______________________

I am an inlaw to a family of gossipers who love to spread it; but cannot understand why one gets upset when the person they are spreading it about finds out. SO I don't tell my mil anything I don't want spread (just found all this out recently when a sister in law was over and from his so called Godmother -mil's cousin <and she put it in writing so I have ammo!!LOL> Knew I had been gossiped about for years, but could never prove it... but now I have it in writing !LOL)...

Oh well I guess if one is gossiping about me .. they will leave others alone. LOL

It's usually pretty useless to ask kids an open-ended question like "How was your day?" or "How was school?" I always hated that when I was a kid.

I always have an opinion, but at work I only expressed the ones about the work. When my youngest was 12, she summed it up very well. She was on the track team and throwing discus and shot put. A girl who also was doing those events was generally not liked. My daughters' friends asked her how she could stand being with the other girl every day for 2 hours.

I was proud of my daughters answer. "Well", she said, "If you have to be with someone every day, it's much easier to do if you like them."

She and the girl became friends, not close, but friends. They keep in touch over FB, even now, 20 years later.

I liked the girl, too. She was "rough around the edges", as they say, but basically a good kid. Years later my daughter told me that the girl had lots of problems at home and had a very hard time with school. I like to think my daughter's friendship was very helpful to her at the time.

I'll bet you never knew you led such an interesting life!

My kids say something similar - they always knew to get the heck out of Dodge when I got "The look of death" on my face!

"Good to Know" comes in handy sometimes.

My DH says " Seriously " Come on NOW.

I usually say "wow" or "well......".

When I was up north a couple summers ago, I went to pick up me DGDs. One of their friends got really nasty with their (my DGDs' gma) and said "Whatever, old lady!" I came unglued. Oldest DGD asked if we could take the "friend" home. I said gladly because she wasn't about to spend the rest of the day with us. They thought after shopping. I stated not after the way she spoke to your Gma. Told them if I wouldn't have to worry about going to jail, I would show her what happens when one shows disrespect to an older person in their own home. The girl looked at me and asked me to wait a minute, ran into the house and apologized to their other gma. I still took her home first.

I see! of course! right right!

I try to avoid using "Right!" when I do not agree with the other person's statement.

My Mom used to always say " Well for Heavens sake" I say it some too but not like she used to

I am impressed

then there's the old country saying (or maybe it is a New England saying) - "Well, I swan..."

Never could figure out where that came from.

I agree with Lynnie, "whatever" is most insulting and it sticks in my craw. I do like the response, "quite".