well, many people seem to be quite annoyed by conventional phrases. I've always found them useful for those occasions when one is obliged to say something, but has nothing to say. I've never taken offense at the Mcphrase Have a nice day. But once after going through a long line at the drive-through the cashier said "sorry about your weight". I've put on a few pounds, but really it's none of their business, is it? So I said "fuck you, I mean really, just fuck off!" and sped away.

Nobody notices if you say "six and a half of one and a dozen of the other." Art and writing critiques are a particular breeding-ground for pat phrases, because there is usually very little desire on anyone's part to say anything helpful or useful to anyone. Does anyone have any experience with this? What do people say to you after hearing your stuff? A painter friend of mine always used to get "this area seems unresolved" about her big abstract paintings. But she discovered that she could claim any area was a head--here's the eyes, the bridge of the nose, etc. and that seemed to fix the problem.

Or, to dis anything, no matter what, you can say "I'd like to see this larger" thereby implying that it is okay, but the wrong size. I eventually couldn't abide that one, when it was used against a young student doing a good series of paintings. So when another student said he wanted to see these larger, I said he should stand a little closer to them.

I once went out to a bar with some friends, I got up and danced, and when I came back to the table, a guy said "good job." I was having a good time till then, but suddenly was completely embarrassed.