Phrase of the day

Discover a new phrase each day to use in your English! These are special phrases and sayings that English speakers use all the time, but you don't often see these phrases in English course books or other study material. Visit daily to learn some popular English phrases on a regular basis.
17th November 2024

I'm not saying ...

We use this expression to soften a negative point that we are introducing.
Usage
Written: 
Yes
Spoken: 
Yes
Formal: 
No
Informal: 
Yes
Example 1
I'm not saying that Jon is lazy, it's just that I never see him working.
I think he does a lot of work out of the office.
I see.
Example 2
I think we need a new computer like the one in the catalogue we saw...
I'm not saying it's expensive. I just think we could spend the money on something else.

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