Last modified on June 10, 2014 by Brad Phillips

Beware Of These Deceitful "Tee-Up" Phrases

No offense, but I got to be honest, I need to be real.

Those types of phrases—known as “tee-ups” and “performatives”—can be signs of deceit, dishonesty, or uncertainty.

I’ve written about this topic before, but this recent interview from NPR’s “On Point” expands upon my original post and offers great examples from the world of social media, The Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Tonight Show, among many others.

If you’re a language geek like I am, you’re in for a treat. Thanks to friend of the blog Deborah Brody for sharing this clip. (Clip no longer available.)

Want to learn more about public speaking? Check out our recommended reading list!