'As I said earlier, I like Christmas – honestly'
Obviously the most important phrase to avoid at Christmas is ‘easy to assemble’ unless you plan to still be painstakingly putting together that must have toy for your beloved offspring on the day after Boxing Day.
But, there are, as with media interviews, some words and phrases which are best avoided in festive conversations.
Clearly ‘Father Christmas doesn’t exist’ and ‘I hate Christmas’ should not be uttered during the season of peace and goodwill, but if things get heated at the dinner table, perhaps while discussing Brexit, its worth remembering ‘with all due respect’ loosely translates as ‘I think your view is stupid’.
'To be clear' makes you sound like a politician about to say something completely ambiguous.
‘As I said earlier’ suggests you are getting rattled and about to lose your festive cheer, while saying ‘honestly’ a lot could imply everything else you say is dishonest’ – not great if you are experiencing Christmas with the in-laws for the first time.
We’d love to hear your tales of when your media skills have saved the day or helped you out of a potentially awkward situation in your personal life. Let us know on adam@mediafirst.co.uk.
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