English: “If you say so….”

Self-tutoring about the evolution of common English: the tutor mentions an observation.

With our political environment, which I’d say has arrived since 2000, agreeing with people has become very important – whether one actually agrees or not. Therefore, ways to suggest agreement have become important in English.

“If you say so” is one such phrase. I started noticing it pre-2010.

“If you say so” is clever on several levels. Besides suggesting agreement, it actually can mean disagreement without protest (such a common thing one needs to execute nowadays). Moreover, it hands responsibility to the other person: their saying so is what makes it true.

I would do well to work “If you say so” into my repertoire of political speak. Perhaps that will be my New Year’s resolution, or one of them.