Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 16:56:08 -0500

From: "Kathleen M. O'Neill" koneil1[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UIC.EDU

Subject: Re: "I was about to say"



Suzanne spake thusly:

My working hypothesis, if one can even term it that, is that it is a

gesture of either:



1) informing the conversation partner that you had had the same thought

they have just expressed



2) a general statement of sympathy with the sentiments the conversation

partner had just expressed



Actually, I (and many others I've heard)

have at least one more use for it.



Speaker A makes a statement which is either

intentionally or unintentionally misleading,

then clarifies intended meaning.



Speaker B responds with a hearty,

"I was about to say...!"



For example:



A: I'm spending the weekend at the beach.



B: You are? (Thinking it's a little cold

yet in Chicago for the beach.)



A: Yes. In Cozumel. (wry grin)



B: OH! I was about to say...!



Never mind that it's not a likely scenario.

I'm allowed to dream if I want to. ;)



And have a great Memorial Day weekend, all!



=^]



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