To hate the expression; ''I'm not being funny but....''

[poshsinglemum]

Normally said when the person is being funny as in bitchy. A real filler.

I dont like it.

If you are going to be bitchy or gossip or whatever, its better to just say "I'm about to play devils advocate here" or "okay I'm just going to come out and say this, sorry" and then say it. Rather than deny it in advance, announce it in advance. Or just launch in.

I'm not being funny but.....

generally prefaces something no-one could construe as anything other than unamusing and commonplace.

diamonds - Oh No, I say 'to be fair' a lot.

the one I hate is 'And Iturned round and said.... And he turned round and said..'
I once endured about 20 repetitions of this from a very boring acquaintance before saying 'Didn't the pair of you get dizzy after a while?'

at SGB.

OP, YANBU. The only times I have heard this particular expression used is when it is followed by bitchiness, racism, sexism etc etc. The occasion that sticks in my memory the most is, on friend X finding out that my DH has epilepsy, "I'm not being funny but you might not want to tell people he's one of those..."

WTF!?

Friend X soon became ex friend.

Also hate "no disrespect, but"..... followed by something that is rude and disrespectful.

I quite like 'Not being funny but...'

Very London.

'Myself' instead of 'me' is unforgivable, though

YANBU.

Reminds me of an ex-boss (total bitch from hell). If she disagreed with what someone said in a meeting she would smile sweetly and start her retort with the words; 'With respect,...'. And then go on to totally annihilate them.

I hate 'He turned around' and said and then 'She turned around' When i first heard this I always imagined people spinning around all over the place!

I use it but only because I got it off a bitchy woman I used to work with. Ah fond memories of all the rows at that place!

Ah yes. 'Myself' and also 'yourself'.

Often used by salesmen/similar. I don't know why- to pretend they're more intelligent than they are?

'If you come and see myself I can sort you out with a good deal. Buy it now and you can take it home with yourself today!!'

I wouldn't mind 'Do you know what I mean?' ^quite so much if that's what they actually said, but they don't.

They say 'Ja know wha' I mean?'. My standard response is 'No.'

(some) Americans say "just sayin'..." at the end of the sentence to achieve the same goal.

I hate myself/yourself a lot. What's wrong with me/you?

I got a warning once for refusing to put 'please contact myself' on a letter. Stupid cow complained when I pointed out it was very poor grammar and it should say me. As she was shagging the boss I got a warning.

I love "just sayin'", though. My mate sometimes mutters it after a bit of a rant - with a bit of Tyra Banks attitood - and it never fails to make me laugh. It's her ironic acknowledgement that she's been ranty, therefore alright by me.

potplant: I thought you were admitting to unremitting self loathing ...

BTW, surely you mean 'as sheself was shagging the boss'.

Just sayin'

Druzhok - it def isn't right taken out of context!

lol druzhok - not being funny like

Agree with all the above !! Also hate the expression 'Don't get me wrong' ........ drives me mad (can I say that ?)

"in the real world..."

So this one is pretend???

I hate myself for this but I find myself using 'I'm not being funny but...', 'don't get me wrong', 'know what I mean...?' etc when I'm talking to people in shops.

I'm a horrible person, aren't I?

Not being funny, druzhok, but I think it's herself was shagging the boss

actually my Irish friend does this (cos she goes more Irish) when she is feeling particularly righteous and it is always very funny

aquavit: don't get me wrong, I was just tagging 'self' onto the given pronoun.

Also don't get me wrong and think that I confidently identified 'she' as a pronoun, without googling

Intersting point re different dialects, because I can 'hear' an Irish voice saying it: I think 'myself/yourself' is more of a common usage for Irish folk.

Ha, another one: 'persons' instead of people. And possibly the fact I have referred to Irish people as 'folk', like they all dress in green and prance around clover

It is like the classic: "no offense but...". You just know that what follows is going to cause offense.