“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.