the.com/pleasantry
Small talk's cover charge: pay it in weather and nods, enter the real conversation.
means A polite, light remark — about weather, weekends, anything harmless — made to be sociable rather than to say something important.
from From French 'plaisanterie' (jesting, joking around), built on 'plaisant' (pleasing, amusing), which traces back to Latin 'placere' — to please. The word drifted from meaning a joke or witticism to covering any small, agreeable bit of chat — the verbal equivalent of a handshake.
- origin
- from french plaisanterie, meaning joke or jest
- function
- signals harmlessness before any real content
- paradox
- says nothing, yet silence would say too much
- overuse
- too many and you're avoiding the actual topic