• pewter@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s an American English thing. Sometimes to make a statement sound less intense, people start by saying “I mean.” It’s probably regional, but I’m not sure where people do and don’t say it.

    • ASeriesOfPoorChoices@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      “mean” refers to “meaning”, as in the definition, or understanding.

      It is similar in use to ie, (id est, or that is). An explanation.

      “Say” makes no sense in this context. Say is stating something, but he isn’t stating, he is explaining.