When it’s cold in Chicago, like, it’s chilly. But, again. It is what it is.

I’m warming up by omitting words and phrases that turn talk tepid. Three in particular:

1. IT IS WHAT IT IS  as in “I was too busy to call. Sorry. It is what is.”

This is a cold shoulder phrase. It negates the chance for any human action, particularly any responsible action on the part of the speaker.

2. AGAIN as in “We need gun control. Again, this is an important issue.”

This is a freeze-frame word. The speaker says the same thing in different words. Apparently the audience can’t comprehend something the first or second or third time around.

3. LIKE as in “We went, like, shopping; and then, like, we went home.”

This is a half-baked word. The speaker did something similar to shopping and somewhat akin to going home. All in all, it seems the speaker didn’t do much.

I advocate omitting these from discourse; but am unlikely to comply. Just because.

4. JUST BECAUSE is another phrase we might omit. Oh well.

5. OH WELL is another we might omit. On the other hand,

6. ON THE OTHER HAND is another phrase…See what I mean?

7. SEE WHAT I MEAN is another…