I'm sorry but...

[kacie tri-ing]

Oh, to add, I am a southerner, and the way "bless his heart" is said in a bad way is....(And yes there is a good way and a bad way to say those same three words).

He's not too bright....."bless his heart" as if that cancels the bad thing you just said.

[Irulan]

"I'm sorry, but I can't find the request you sent for information for your supervisor's mid-year evaluation. Could you resend that request so I know what to give you?"

Seriously, what's wrong with that? "I'm sorry, but..." is a perfectly good phrase if you use it when you really ARE sorry about what you're about to say,

That is true.( but) It's all about the disclaimer that might follow the "...but". This is turning into a huge semantics discussion

I'm sorry I didn't pick up any beer, but you drink too much anyway.
I'm sorry I didn't come to dinner, but your friends are a bunch of jerks.
I'm sorry I cheated on you, but I'm not getting what I need.

etc.

[malkin]

What I'm talking about is:

I'm sorry, but that car is ugly.

Right, used when the speaker isn't sorry at all.

*snicker* Look way down the definition options, dictionary.com...5 and 6 are kind of funny in this context.

1. feeling regret, compunction, sympathy, pity, etc.: to be sorry to leave one's friends; to be sorry for a remark; to be sorry for someone in trouble.
2. regrettable or deplorable; unfortunate; tragic: a sorry situation; to come to a sorry end.
3. sorrowful, grieved, or sad: Was she sorry when her brother died?
4. associated with sorrow; suggestive of grief or suffering; melancholy; dismal.
5. wretched, poor, useless, or pitiful: a sorry horse.
6. (used interjectionally as a conventional apology or expression of regret): Sorry, you're misinformed. Did I bump you? Sorry.

I'm pitiful, but that car is ugly.

[Possegal]

When I saw the subject my mind right to
"no offense but,..." which is always followed by something that is more likely than not going to offend you. So I think no offense but bothers me as much as I'm sorry but bothers you.

I am so glad I'm perfect.

I had a friend tell me once that I commented that something was a pet peeve more than anyone he knew. He said I had more pet peeves than anyone. I however believe that the things that bothered me, bothered them too, just that I was the only one that called it a pet peeve. I've tried to use that phrase less since then.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am southern too and we say "bless his heart" as an insult. Like "bless his heart he is nice but not too bright". One day I was having the worst morning: spilled coffee on myself, tripped and bruised my leg, something else. My mom sent me a text "well bless your pea picking heart". I laughed so hard I put it under my mouse pad at work (have one with a clear cover). The bless his heart reminded me of it.