When you signal that you are getting to the point

5.1   When you signal that you are getting to the point

Let me be perfectly clear.   Listen   <“Let me be perfectly clear. I don’t want any trouble, neither for you nor for me.”>

May I be frank?   Listen   <“May I be frank? The way you are conducting business is unacceptable.”>

To make a long story short.   Listen   A “To avoid details of secondary importance.”   <“To make a long story short, we got to the airport just in time.”>

Let’s call a spade a spade.   Listen   A “Let’s give a thing its short definition.”   <“Let’s call a spade a spade. The company is bankrupt.”>

Here’s the bottom line.   Listen   A “Here is the conclusion.”   <“Here’s the bottom line. We have lost competition.”>

 

5.2   When you make sure that your point is understood

 Do you understand?   Listen   <“If you flunk this test, you can get kicked out of the school. Do you understand?”>

Understand?   Listen   <“Get out of my way and stop following me around. Understand?”>

You know?   Listen   <“This mineral water is really beneficial for your health. You know?” – “Yes, the local doctor told me that.”>

Do you know what I’m talking about?   Listen   A “You can figure out what I am talking about, can’t you?”   <“There is an old ruin north of the town. Do you know what I’m talking about?”>

Do you know what I am saying?   Listen   <“The view of the valley from the mountain peak is majestic. Do you know what I’m saying?” – “Yes, I know. I‘ve been there. I‘ve seen it.”>

Do you know what I mean?   Listen   <“It’s not just hot in Sahara, it’s really hot! Do you know what I mean?” – “Yes, it’s one of the hottest places on the planet.”>

If you know what I mean.   Listen   <“I’ve got to purchase some of those high-intensity electric light bulbs, if you know what I mean.” – “Halogen lights. I need them, too.”>

Do you see what I mean?   Listen   <“If our airplane arrives late, we’ll get stuck at the airport. There will be no bus or taxi available until next morning. Do you see what I mean?” – “Well, I don’t like it.”>

Do you see where I’m coming from?   Listen   A “Do you understand my logic?”   <“Unemployment causes lack of demand, and low demand causes unemployment. This vicious cycle should be broken. Do you see where I am coming from?”>

Don’t you see?   Listen   A “Don’t you understand?”   <“Why have you done that?” – “The circumstances forced me to. Don’t you see?”>

Do you hear what I’m saying?   Listen   <“This deal is bad. We’ve got to get out of it. Do you hear what I’m saying?”>

Do you hear me?   Listen   <“We need to solve this problem as soon as possible. Do you hear me?”>

Does that make any sense?   Listen   <“We have to introduce new products to the market one at a time. Otherwise, we create competition between our products. Does that make sense?”>

Am I making sense?   Listen   <“If we neglect a slightest detail, the entire project can be ruined. Am I making sense?”>

Am I right?   Listen   A “Is what I am saying correct?”   <“Using the same logic, you should come to the same conclusion. Am I right?”>

Do you follow me?   Listen   A “Do you understand the continuity of my thought?”   <“First, prepare dough. Second, beat three eggs. Then, chop onions. Do you follow me?”>

Do you follow?   Listen   A “Do you track my thought?”   <“If you open a savings account with our bank, you will earn 1% more in interest plus you’ll get an annual bonus. Do you follow?”>

Are you following me?   Listen   A “Are you keeping up with what I am saying?”   <“Cross the bridge and keep driving until you see a large cornfield on both sides of the road. Turn left at the intersection. Are you following me?”>

Are you with me on this?   Listen   <“As you see, there’s no chance we could win that fight. We simply didn’t have adequate resources. Are you with me on this?”>

Are you with me so far?   Listen   <“I explained you how I came to this conclusion. Are you with me so far?”>

Do you get the message?   Listen   A “Do you understand what I am telling you?”   <“People don’t behave like that at your age. Grow up! Do you get the message?” – “I guess so…”>

Do you get the picture?   Listen   A “Do you understand the situation?”   <“If we fail to make a good presentation, they will close our project. Do you get the picture?” – “Yes, I get it.”>

Do you get it?   Listen   <“The boss ordered us to complete the project by the end of the month. Do you get it? – “Yes, I do.” – “Well, then, get to work.”>

Do you agree?   Listen   <“We need to save our strength for the final game. Do you agree?”>

 

5.3   When you are ready to make a statement

Please be advised that…   Listen   <“Please be advised that due to stormy weather, your flight is cancelled.”>

For your information,…   Listen   A “This is to inform you.”   <“For your information, all airplanes are grounded until further notice.”>

It’s a pleasure to inform you that…   Listen   <“It’s a pleasure to inform you that our team won the school competition.”>

I regret to inform you that…   Listen   <“I regret to inform you that our project was cancelled.”>

I hate to disappoint you, but…   Listen   <“I hate to disappoint you, but we have to cancel our trip.”>

I apologize for the inconvenience, but…   Listen   <“I apologize for the inconvenience, but we have to delay your flight for technical reasons.”>

If I may say so,…   Listen   <“If I may say so, you are the kindest person I know.”>

If it’s okay with you,…   Listen   <“If it’s OK with you, I would like to spend our next vacation in Brazil.”>

If it pleases you,…   Listen   <“If it pleases you, I suggest that we eat dinner out tonight.”>

If I may be so bold,…   Listen   A “If I am allowed to make such a bold statement,…”   <“If I may be so bold, the government has got to get its act together before this country falls into a massive deficit.”>

As you know,…   Listen   <“As you know, I don’t like airplanes. Let’s take a train.”>

As you might know,…   Listen   <“As you might know, our company manufactures high-tech electronic equipment.”>

As you may already know,…   Listen   <“As you may already know, there was an accident in the Gulf of Mexico.”>

As you are aware,…   Listen   <“As you are aware, money doesn’t grow on trees.”>

As you are no doubt aware,…   Listen   <“As you are no doubt aware, the boss made a decision to close down your project.”>

Not that it’s any of my business, but…   Listen   <“Not that it’s any of my business, but the way you spend money is not necessarily an example of frugality.”>

I’m just saying…   Listen   <“I’m just saying that State Law should not contradict Federal Law.”>

What I would like to say is…   Listen   <“What I would like to say is there’s nothing new in this new theory.”>

Let me just say…   Listen   <“Let me just say that this small technical improvement didn’t go unnoticed by the leading scientists.”>

I just wanted to say…   Listen   <“I just wanted to say that there’s no accounting for taste, that’s all.”>

I want to bring up the following…   Listen   A “I want to introduce, submit, mention…”   <“We discussed the notion of allegory. Now, I want to bring up the notion of parable.”>

By the same token,…   Listen   A “By analogy, similarly, likewise.”   <“When my sister likes a man, she loves him, and, by the same token, when she dislikes a man, she hates him.”>

By the way,…   Listen   A “Following the same train of thought and in addition to it.”   <“Thank you for your reminder about the rain. By the way, this year we have had more rains than usually, don’t you think so?”>

Incidentally,…   Listen   A “As a new related topic…”   <“The boss is going to have a party this weekend. Incidentally, I have never received an invitation to this party.”>