Saved by Alex Burns
Why do we say “like,” like, all the time?
A phrase that’s been showing up recently is, “no pressure.” It usually comes in a pitch letter of some sort, written by someone who isn’t in a position to exert any pressure.
So why say it?
It’s a bit like, “while supplies last.” And “to be honest…” which is perhaps the most self-negating of the three.
It’s throat-clearing, a word salad designed to so... See more
So why say it?
It’s a bit like, “while supplies last.” And “to be honest…” which is perhaps the most self-negating of the three.
It’s throat-clearing, a word salad designed to so... See more
As a discourse marker to indicate a looseness of meaning, as in “She’s, like, my oldest friend” (meaning it may not exactly be true, but close), or to add emphasis, “it’s like 100 miles from here!”
Psychology Today • Like, What? The Power and History of a Popular Phrase
Words on the Move: Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)
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