A reader asked:
I often have problems with phrases that are literally neutral, but have negative connotations. For example: for years, I thought ‘forget about it’ was a polite way to tell someone that they didn’t have to worry about a situation. Eventually, I realized this was insulting. If possible, could you please list some more phrases that are literally neutral but have negative connotations? Possible with the connotative definition?
Realsocialskills answered:
Most of these aren’t always negative, but they can have negative connotations depending on context and tone:
- That’s nice (“I don’t care”)
- Uh huh (“I don’t believe you and/or I wish you’d shut up about this”)
- Fine (Can be taken to mean “I’m not ok with this, but I’d rather put up with it than discuss it further. I’m probably going to stay mad about this”
- Whatever (“I don’t respect your opinion and want you to shut up about it”)
- Never mind (“I wish you’d shut up.” or “You’re obviously not going to do anything worthwhile about this, so I want to drop the subject”)
- I hope you’re happy (“You’re doing a stupid thing that I have contempt for”)
- Duly noted (“I don’t care”)
- It doesn’t matter (“It matters, but I don’t respect you enough to say why”)
- I guess (“I don’t think I agree, but I don’t want to say why”)
- Thanks for sharing (“What you said was inappropriately personal”)
- Interesting (“That’s boring, annoying, or offensive, and I would like you to stop talking about it”)
- Really? (In certain tones it can mean “I don’t believe you and can’t believe you would say such a stupid thing” or “I think you’re lying to me and I’m angry about that.” It doesn’t always have that kind of connotation, though – it can also just be a way of expressing surprise.)
- Good luck with that (“That’s a stupid idea” or “That’s going to fail and I can’t believe you’re trying it”)
- If you say so (“I don’t believe you and can’t believe you would say such a stupid thing”)