Actually, I have found that the expression "with all due respect" can be exceedingly useful in formal meetings, or, when writing a formal note, or email, or - perish the thought - post.
I think that British English can be exceedingly nuanced, subtle, and - at times - formal and understated when written, (or spoken, depending on circumstance and context).
Very true. Often times I am not sure if they're being rude or polite.🧐 With some older British gents the vein on their temple is the tell. If it's throbbing, they are being rude no matter how refined spoken language.
This is our way of telling you for the following sentence, we’re not being sarcastic, employing crippling understatement, saying the opposite of what we really mean, using a double entendre, or being polite to save your feelings.
Good to know. So I can ignore the vast majority of statements made which do not start with that phrase
Indeed; when we do not start a sentence “if I’m being honest”, we’re definitely not communicating at all, and in fact are merely indulging in throat exercises to ensure our vocal chords are maintained in tip-top condition for those rare occasions when we need to keep things simple for an American.Good to know. So I can ignore the vast majority of statements made which do not start with that phrase
That's not always the case with Americans, but both of my Caucasian parents were in the U.S. Navy. They had a cuss jar, as I was growing up, which meant that I could buy comic books, little cars, or other things to get me out of the room when things got heated.
Have you read the "Anglo-EU Translation Guide"?
Goes along with the tic some seem to have adopted of interjecting "... to be fair ..." throughout their speech. Like a walking stick rather than words/a phrase. Totally without meaning in the context but helps support them from one possibly meaningful phrase or sentence to another.
"To be fair" is useful, as it allows for the (somewhat reluctant - which is what the phrase implies) acknowledgement that your interlocutor, or opponent, or alternative perspective, may have a case (or, have advanced a few arguments) that are worth noting, or considering.
Indeed.
That is generally used to mean “the aircraft was not under the pilots’ control”, by contrast with a “controlled flight into terrain”, where the pilots did have control (i.e. the aircraft was working, they were not incapacitated, etc.) but they just foxtrot uniformed it.
Indeed.
