“Just saying” or Just Sayin” in the Midwest is used as a
tag on the end of a thought almost always used for comedic effect. Sometimes it is used to indicate you expressed something that should be obvious to everyone but most people are too intimidated or uncomfortable to say out
loud (
like the elephant in the room metaphor). Depending on context it can also
mean “seems obvious to me but it’s obviously just my personal
opinion.” Occasionally it is tagged on the end of a sentence to indicate your previously expressed thought or
opinion was just a quick first impression or “off the top of my head” response. Context is everything to understand the correct meaning.
In my experience it can be applied equally to a compliment, a criticism and/or as an effective form of sarcasm. Most online definitions for it’s use completely missed the functional meaning of the phrase stating it was used “to claim something as
fact without evidence”. Some claimed it was to “soften criticism or defer provoking
anger from someone”. The worst was from people claiming it was used by “people with
no balls to say something controversial or potentially offensive but to accept no responsibility for saying it.” Another misinterpretation Claimed the user knew their statement was false but were unwilling to acknowledge or respond to any facts proving otherwise”. Personally I have
never once heard the phrase used as described in this paragraph.
Example of it being used as a compliment:
A friend of my complimented me on some pictures I had posted on either Instagram or FB. She expressed an
opinion that I should consider pursuing photography more diligently with a belief that I could earn some
money licensing or selling prints etc. At the end of her complimentary
opinion she added the “Just saying” comment.
Example of good natured sarcasm i.e teasing a friend or giving them some friendly grief:
A younger girl/
woman you know well wants to wear high heels to an engagement but is obviously struggling to maintain her balance while walking around at
home. “Perhaps a nice pair of flats would be a more sensible option.... Just saying....”
You are having a meal with a friend at a restaurant and they spill their beverage on something while drinking or the ice shifts in the
glass causing their beverage to spill out on themselves. “Perhaps a straw would be a good idea...Just saying.”
Then there are tons of political and other
memes out there with the phrase used for various types of sarcasm.
