why do lots of people keep saying,'you know what i mean'?

Answer 1

I think it is a figure of speech that people pick up without realising it. Like those who plauge us with saying "like" at the start of every sentence, "Like, you know what I mean, very annoying, you know..."
--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 2

Oh it really grates on me and if some one says it I always think it is because they are unable to explain properly what they are wanting to say and no I have no idea what you mean.

Maybe it is because my generation where taught grammar and punctuation and now if you can string a sentence together with abbreviations then that is all that matters if you can text using one syllable your really great.

I know there are people who do not fit into my generalisation guess I am just jaded with the whole thing.
The other word is init in what, a cup, a box, what do you mean.

Sorry to appear a complete grump.

Answer 3

I should imagine it's because they'd like to know whether or not you know what they mean!

Answer 4

I think they keep saying this because they are basically stupid and thick. If you listen to anyone who has a modicum of intelligence they don't utter this phrase, it's only cretins like highly paid 'pro' footballers who bore us to death with it.
I heard one the Manchester United and England players giving a television interview a couple of weeks ago and every other couple of words out of his mouth were 'yer know' and he came across as a complete idiot. You would have thought someone would tell them about this, but they never do.

Answer 5

I think I use it only with close friends who usually _do_ know what I mean, I use it as a statement expecting 'yes' rather than a question as answer 2 implies. It's just easier than finishing every detail, among friends you often don't have to explain quite as much, you don't want to be as wordy as with strangers. But still you'll want to check up that they got it, so that's why you say 'well, you know' or something similar.

Answer 6

I do that a lot and didn't realize it until i listen to a message that i left on my friends phone and i thought how many times can i actually say this. I think it's a very annoying habit that you sometimes just don't really realize you have. Sorry!

Answer 7

Because sometimes when we're telling someone something, you can't see what you look like, but we can, and there's this blank look over there like, what in the sam hill is she talking about. So I want to see if you can relate to any part of what I just said and I throw out....."know what I mean?"

Answer 8

It's called a tag question. When people say something that they want to be backed up or even if they want to make something sound like a reply they will use tag questions or 'tags' as they are sometimes called.

Another tag is 'innit' like when people might say 'weathers bad today, innit?'. Hope I explained properly.

Answer 9

I never heard that saying before, until Frank Bruno started saying " Ya know what a mean ' arry " . Now 75% of the population say it. !!! ss

Answer 10

It's kinda a psychological help for you to understand what kind of thing they are trying to explain to you at the moment. To ensure themselves that you are following what they are talking about to you. Unless they will look like a dope to you, talking long and deep but you don't get what they said to you at all....

You know what I mean? :D
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