2006-11-17 13:09:21 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It means you tried your best not to offend someone by being as honest as you could without hurting someone's feelings.
2006-11-17 13:51:17 · answer #1 · answered by Janelle Ashton 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Usually that the speaker is saying something s/he knows is not nice or even nasty, but for some reason feels compelled to say anyway. Usually, they want you to fix the problem, but they still want you to like them.
Once in awhile, they say something they don't realize is going to be offensive, but once it is out of their mouths, they realize it sounds really bad. So, no offense sometimes means: I'm sorry, I have a big mouth.
What do you say back?
"None taken." You can say this seriously, or sarcastically.
Or: "Well, I don't mean any offense either, but just what do you mean by that?"
Or: "I'm sorry. That is offensive. Please watch your mouth in the future."
Or something along those lines. (-: Always try to choose the most positive meaning, if you can. Most people don't try to be rude and borish -- it just happens by accident.
2006-11-17 13:20:58 · answer #2 · answered by Madame M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No offense usually means that someone said something that you could consider offensive, but they are asking you not to take offense to what they said.
2006-11-18 07:51:22 · answer #3 · answered by hargonagain 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you say "No offense" to someone, you mean "I don't mean you specifically."
If I saw you in a store and went up to you and said, "Can you help me find this item?"
And you said, "I don't work here."
Then, I would probably say, "I'm sorry, no offense," because I don't mean to anger you by thinking that you were an employee of the store because of the way you looked.
2006-11-17 13:25:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a way for people to say something totally rude and out of line and then they think that by saying "no offense" they are off the hook. Kind of like a "time out" from good manners. Many people think they can get away with saying almost anything like that. It is hostile. When confronted with that kind of boorish behavior and I know they really meant to be mean, I said "only people I care about can offend me". I know, that is rude, too!
2006-11-17 16:41:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a way of saying that you will be insulting someone but want him to think that you are not wanting to do so.
Like, if I were to say -"No offense, Sam, but I think your Question is stupid." Or some similar thing about your dress style or hair etc. The best thing to do in such a situation is to reply - "None taken, Ramsey; after all, what can I expect from a dumb@$$ like you?"
Have a nice day.
2006-11-17 14:21:35 · answer #6 · answered by Daimyo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a phrase a person uses to give himself permission to say something that another person might find insulting or otherwise offensive.
No offense, but that was a rather ignorant question you asked.
Get the idea?
2006-11-17 13:25:51 · answer #7 · answered by actuator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats offense, the opposite of defense. You mean "offence". If you say "no offence" it means that the comment you said, was not intended to hurt the persons feelings.
Jim: i hate basketball
basketball player: what?!
jim: no offense man
2006-11-17 13:18:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means someone wants to say something that might cause you offense, and it is not their intention, in saying it, to offend you.
2006-11-17 16:42:33 · answer #9 · answered by Esther 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it probably means what they are going to say is offensive but they don't want to be hit
2006-11-17 13:29:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It generally means they are going to say what they like with little or no regard to your feelings and they think that this preface will allow them to avoid blame if you are angry. In the same bracket as the, "Can't you take a joke," disclaimer for tactless/rude chat
2006-11-17 13:17:09 · answer #11 · answered by william john l 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋