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Hello again,

On the subject of superfluous words, (Rusty's post 591 regarding the word 'then'), what do you make of the phrase 'as it were' which, most of the time, seems to me as superfluous too. Is it like a 'verbal tic' if there is such a thing, something one says without meaning to do so?

While speaking, of course, it is often necessary to interpolate meaningless phrases to gain time to think of what to say next; different people will have different b"verbal tics".

Similar to the way a lot of people interpose the word 'like ' into their speech - dotted here and there in the same sentence.

Fair enough - We too have a number of these useless, yet useful, phrases.

Time for me to give my brain a rest.
Night everyone!

Bonne nuit pigale

Night, Pigale!

LOL and Omigod get on my wick.

tut tut
I was told never to say "on my w***" by my Dad when I was very young. I had picked up the expression at school. He never explained, but .....

As it turns out, it is quite innocent, originating from candlestick makers when dirt used to stick onto the wick on the candle when being handled.

' On someone's wick' is actually in Chambers as' to irritate someone'.