“By the by” is a British English idiom meaning “by the way” or “beside the point”. Its origins are unclear, but it may be related to the word “byway”. It is commonly used to slightly change a topic of conversation or add personal insight. Idioms can cause confusion and should be avoided in certain situations.
“By the by”, sometimes also spelled “the bye”, is an English idiom meaning “by the way” or “beside the point”. It is usually more common in British English; Americans more often say “by the way” under the same circumstances. Like most idioms, the meaning is not fixed and usage is not always standard. However, in most cases, this particular string of words is more commonly used to add an aside to a conversation or to change the subject slightly. Many modern English speakers and readers consider the construction to be a bit old-fashioned and it is not as common today as it was in the past. Linguists usually agree that it was most popular during the 18th and early 19th centuries. It is still generally understood today, but can be seen as formal or dated.
most probable origins
By definition, an idiom is a phrase or statement that has acquired an understood meaning that is different from its literal interpretation. The origin of the phrase ‘the by’ is not entirely clear, but it may be related to the word ‘byway’, meaning a secondary road or service road which runs as a kind of offshoot to the main thoroughfare. Going the byways of a conversation would mean moving on to related topics or tangents. The American expression “by the way” probably has similar origins.
Examples of correct use
The expression is most commonly used to slightly change a topic of conversation to something that may be related but not quite the same. For example, if two people are discussing holidays, you might say, “By the way, I wanted to let you know that my son’s birthday party is next Saturday.” It can also be used to add personal insight or commentary into a conversation, or as a means of introducing gossip or speculation.
Why is it used
It can be difficult to pin down why, exactly, people choose this expression rather than just using a more direct transition or saying something more opaque like “by the way.” It is most likely a force of habit or a local trend. Idiomatic expressions in general can help establish a familiar or casual tone. Sports writing is a place where idioms like “take it home” or “thread the needle” are often appropriate and even necessary to convey meaning. Creative writing and poetry are other areas where idioms can be used frequently. “By the way” is usually more common in spoken conversations, usually in casual contexts, but there are always exceptions.
Possibility of confusion
Idiomatic expressions can often cause a lot of confusion because their meanings are usually not apparent from the words themselves. Taken by themselves, the words “by the way” don’t really mean much, at least not something that makes sense. Native speakers usually understand this as a matter of convention and usage, although this generally has to be learned.
The same goes for practically all idioms. For example, saying it’s raining to cats and dogs doesn’t mean the animals are falling from the sky; it means it’s raining very heavily. Likewise, a candidate running for president is not literally running. Idioms are specific to a particular culture and language, so idioms used in the United States may not be easily understood in other English-speaking countries, and vice versa.
Memorization and frequent practice with local speakers are often the only ways people learn and remember idioms like this. For this reason, using idioms in certain situations can cause confusion and may need to be avoided. In international correspondence, for example, they can be misunderstood and in certain circumstances can be offensive. Those who write for academic or business purposes may also find the idioms too casual or distracting.
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