I was watching some dumb show on TV and the detective said to his boss, “With all due respect, Blah Blah.” He may have convinced his boss that he was about to speak with respect. I was not fooled. He then proceeded to correct and disrespect his boss in a wild rant.
Apparently, this comment is intended to provide respect prior to the disrespect that follows. To me, it indicates that although a person is generally respectable, this particular instance is an exception – an exception to be exploited and excused by the receiver of the impending disrespect. He might as well just say, “Although normally you are worthy of respect, I am about to disrespect you right now, and you have to accept it.”
As much as I can remember, I personally have never been the recipient of this “due respect” comment. I do expect to receive a response to this moan telling me, “With all due respect, you are full of crap on this one.”
Email me with comments and to let me know what you want me to Moan about.
Got a burning question for Manny? Send it to mannysmoans@mdpublishing.com.
2 Comments
My generation uses a similar phrase: “No offense, but…” What follows is usually offensive!
I concur.