by digsy95 January 8, 2014
Get the To be fair mug.A phrase that often precedes a statement that is intended to offer a piece of information which the speaker feels is important to the conversation.
This phrase often sounds pretentious when used, and will often be followed by a piece of obvious information that nobody wants to hear.
This phrase often sounds pretentious when used, and will often be followed by a piece of obvious information that nobody wants to hear.
Joe: "I've gained twenty-five pounds!"
Bob: "To be fair, you haven't gone outside at all in the past four months!"
Bob: "To be fair, you haven't gone outside at all in the past four months!"
by DarlingBelle March 12, 2013
Get the To Be fair mug.While "to be fair" is oftentimes overused and misused, it does serve a legitimate role.
When someone makes too many partial assertions and you feel as though they are intentionally ignoring some aspect -- i.e. they aren't being fair -- then you can use the phrase to introduce your counterpoint.
"To be fair" is not intended to completely put down the other person's points. Rather, it simply sheds light on the opposing perspective that has been overlooked.
Ideally, the phrase should be used to highlight an equally valid counterpoint. If you fail to do this, then your point is "pointless," and it is better left unsaid.
When someone makes too many partial assertions and you feel as though they are intentionally ignoring some aspect -- i.e. they aren't being fair -- then you can use the phrase to introduce your counterpoint.
"To be fair" is not intended to completely put down the other person's points. Rather, it simply sheds light on the opposing perspective that has been overlooked.
Ideally, the phrase should be used to highlight an equally valid counterpoint. If you fail to do this, then your point is "pointless," and it is better left unsaid.
NOT correct usage:
"Hitler was an awful person"
"Well, to be fair, some of his art was pretty nice" -- this is not a valid counterargument. We're talking about two points of different proportions.
CORRECT usage:
"Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior! We should all worship him!"
"To be fair, many people have different beliefs from you, and we cannot prove/disprove what god is right or wrong. I respect your faith, you need to do the same to those around you." -- this highlights a big oversight in the original commenter, adding something meaningful to the conversation
"Hitler was an awful person"
"Well, to be fair, some of his art was pretty nice" -- this is not a valid counterargument. We're talking about two points of different proportions.
CORRECT usage:
"Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior! We should all worship him!"
"To be fair, many people have different beliefs from you, and we cannot prove/disprove what god is right or wrong. I respect your faith, you need to do the same to those around you." -- this highlights a big oversight in the original commenter, adding something meaningful to the conversation
by HuniSenpai January 10, 2020
Get the To be fair mug.To be fair is a phrase mostly used by people who make a living stealing oxygen from others. It serves no purpose other than to try to make their forthcoming statement sound more profound whereas it actually devalues everything that follows. Should be filed along with "Proactive", "At the end of the day" and "To be honest"
by Earl Barrett's Hair July 27, 2012
Get the To Be Fair mug.A phrase which should mean something but rarely does when it's used by sports players - especially British soccer players - and radio/TV commentators. You think the speaker is about to offer a balanced point of view - e.g. "I know I'm critical of X, but, to be fair, he is recovering from a bad injury", but most times, they're just trotting out the same dumb platitudes to fill airtime. Interchangeable with "at the end of the day" and "as I say".
To be fair, it is a Wednesday.
To be fair, as I say, I'm talking into a microphone at the end of the day, Gary
To be fair, as I say, I'm talking into a microphone at the end of the day, Gary
by hillhunt March 5, 2009
Get the to be fair mug.A phrase that precedes a series of statements that, taken as a whole, are completely incorrect. This phase is commonly bandied about on a certain prestigious law school forum, populated by only a handful of people who happen each to have more than a dozen aliases, giving them the false impression that they're actually socializing.
Law School Poster: OMG top 1% at HYS. chances at WLRK?
To Be Fair: To be fair,
You shouldn't have gone to law school in the first place.
To Be Fair: To be fair,
You shouldn't have gone to law school in the first place.
by xoxoposter August 24, 2009
Get the To be fair mug.form of starting an explanation.
another term generally used around the music btec regions of stratford.
another term generally used around the music btec regions of stratford.
by tom ford December 14, 2004
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