It’s a really great question....

I have heard “that’s a really great question”, quite often on discussion programmes, but I can’t say it annoys me. I don’t understand the “can I get …”. Do you mean “ can I get you a cup of tea?” - in my case I always say “would you like a cup of tea ?”

It really, really annoys me.

It gives them a couple of seconds to think about their answer.
I think it’s a sensible tactic.
If you leave dead air the listener will unfairly think that the interviewee doesn’t have a clue what they are talking about

I think they say it to give them time to think of an answer!

X posts Fanny

Annoying

‘Can I get?’ is 100% the fault of F.R.I.E.N.D.S

GrannySeaside51

I’ve noticed more and more people in discussion programs answer a question with “that's a really great question” or something along those lines. I find it incredibly annoying and wonder why it's become such a popular opening to answering. Does it annoy other? It's almost as bad as “Can I get...” which ranks very high!

That's a really great question, GrannySeaside51
(Sorry, couldn't resist)

I shall go away and think.

Not much annoys me

It has to be something that is repeated often and even then it only jars me a bit, not really annoying..

Like constant erms or OKs

I think politicians use 'that's a great question' to buy time to listen to their advisors tell them an answer before they respond. It also flatters the questioner, which might be useful if they are not supportive.

My pet peeve at the moment is 'now look. . . .' It sounds so bossy. They all do it, for some reason, and it's a fairly recent thing. Keir Starmer was doing it to the point of irritation on Laura K last week. 'Look, Laura - we've considered toe implications, and . . . .'

Why? What's she meant to look at?

Doodledog I think politicians use 'that's a great question' to buy time to listen to their advisors tell them an answer before they respond. It also flatters the questioner, which might be useful if they are not supportive.

That

Logical and most likely the reason.

What is said: "that's a really great question"

What is meant: "damn, I wish you hadn't asked that question"

Also ‘that’s a very interesting point’.

If you watch "Yes Minister" you'll hear it used all the time. Standard phrase for politicians for ages!

Slightly off piste but - crate rather than create. As in we will ‘crate wonderful levelling up programs ‘.

"dead air" – what a useful expression! MrB is very good at dead air moments but I've never known what to call it 😁

Could I use it at a job interview, do you suppose?

They often mean 'that's a really good question, but I will answer a totally different one now that there is a bit of a time lapse between what I was asked and what I prefer to talk about'.

It’s a radio term Baggs
My father is exactly the same.
You never know whether he hasn’t heard you or is thinking deeply about what you have said.
Or neither

ixion

Could I use it at a job interview, do you suppose?

Definitely! It also has the added bonus of praising the interviewer’s choice of question.
Butter ‘em up

Hmm, that’s a great thread title………..
(Goes and walks dog and makes cup of tea)

It also has the added bonus of praising the interviewer’s choice of question.

Yes I always look at it as them flattering the interviewer 😇

My pet peeve is all the AYs heard on my radio. AY really good question etc. I never hear people in the street say AY cup of tea, AY nice day, AY pair of shoes, yet AYs are constant from broadcasters and politicians.

My MD at work does this but doesn't seem to have any answers to the very interesting questions