“I’m like…”

Verbal ticks are very annoying and also very difficult to eradicate. Often they become worse when you are in a stressful situation like meeting your boyfriend's grandparent.

I know someone in their 70s, who incidentally has an MA from Oxford, who litters their conversation with "sort of" so I don't think it is a sign of lack of intelligence nor is it a generational thing.

Focus on the fact that she is a nice girl and she has interesting things to say.

This could just be nervousness and will disappear or lessen as you get to know her.
Just try to ignore it but I know it can be irritating.

I find it mildly irritating when someone I know says "d'you know what I mean" after every sentence without waiting for an answer before carrying on with her tale.

It’s like the so and well that pepper conversations. A friend used to start everything with I have to say . . .
If she’s pleasant, polite and friendly, try not to let it bother you.

I loathe this widely used expression. My two DD sometimes do it.

I’ll ask them a question, eg what would you like for dinner, and their reply will be
“Like, toad in the hole”, my standard response is always, “ Like toad-in-the hole, or actual toad-in-the-hole”.

Drives them mad, but they get the point.

It’s such an annoying habit which has become so widespread.
Where did it come from? It’s certainly been around for some years as I have sometimes heard people in their thirties say it.

Maybe the answer is for parents of very young children to nip it in the bud as soon as their children picks it up. That’s the best time to break them of the habit before it becomes part of their normal speech.

It mostly seems to be girls but not exclusively.

It comes from the States I think, many of the American 'stars' use it.

I don’t think I’ve noticed it ….

It isn’t used here but we have plenty of other daft phrases. Poor girl was probably nervous, though, meeting someone older for the first time.

It didn’t originate in Australia then nanna8 !
You would definitely have noticed it by now.

I don’t think she was nervous as it was a very informal occasion and she seemed very relaxed and confident when speaking to us all.
I recently met some people from Tasmania and they say it is used there, nanna8.

It seriously grates on my nerves.

It’s very common, definitely an import from the USA - just a filler word (as is just) and I think for the younger generation it’s the same as ‘urm’ or ‘err’ are for others, although not so annoying.
There’s an episode of Judge Judy where she asks a young man to refrain from using like and he actually cannot construct a sentence, despite several attempts.

Georgesgran

It’s very common, definitely an import from the USA - just a filler word (as is just) and I think for the younger generation it’s the same as ‘urm’ or ‘err’ are for others, although not so annoying.
There’s an episode of Judge Judy where she asks a young man to refrain from using like and he actually cannot construct a sentence, despite several attempts.

It’s definitely an Americanism.

I’m a bit sad as I love Judge Judy 🤣🤣🤣

Nice one Cossy .

Yes you hear it all the time cabbie.
On TV , and listening to youngsters chatting. It’s not just once or twice , it’s after every sentence.

She is smart

Your gs seems to be happy with her, she is a nice conversationalist, good student

Please do not get hang on such a little detail about her.
It is petty.

She speaks properly, just not to your liking

Making a mountain out of a molehill

My lovely nail lady and beautician says it all the time. I like her too much to move on the next one.

Cossy

I loathe this widely used expression. My two DD sometimes do it.

I’ll ask them a question, eg what would you like for dinner, and their reply will be
“Like, toad in the hole”, my standard response is always, “ Like toad-in-the hole, or actual toad-in-the-hole”.

Drives them mad, but they get the point.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

My cousin often start a sentence with “I’m not being rude but….” Thing is, he isn’t being rude. It irritates me.

What do her GCSE results (and more particularly your grandson’s A level grades) have to do with it?

It’s a fashion - a bit like calling university ‘uni’ or phrases such as ‘why oh why’. The former is still in vogue, but will die out (sooner, rather than later, I hope) whilst the latter is only used by older people, as it’s no longer in fashion.

We don’t hear as many people ‘turning round and saying’ things as we used to, and ‘at the end of the day’ seems to have had its moment, too.

Nothing to do with grades - just trends.

Why are you sad Cossy ? has something happened to Judge Judy ?

The younger members of our family, if out in a restaurant or coffee shop are of the "can I get?" brigade. If only the riposte could be "I dunno?" but it never is, plus when asking "how are you?" the response is invaribly "I'm good" not asking about behaviour I suppose every generation has their own patter. I don't think we were not so exposed to American talk. I blame Friends. It seems only a short while ago when we watched, then our children, now the grandchildren

Anyone remember the Australian inflection at the end of the sentence that also took hold?.

Bless her,it may well irritate you and she may well not realise that she says it so much but it's more your issue than hers..