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3. as I was saying

as I was saying

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as I was saying

Said when one wants to return to one's previous topic of discussion. As I was saying before the waiter came over, I'm going to Europe next month! Thank you Alice. Now as I was saying, you'll need to call payroll to get those figures.

See also: saying

as I was saying

 and like I was saying

to repeat what I've been saying; to continue with what I was saying. (The first form is appropriate in any conversation. The second form is colloquial, informal, and familiar. In addition, this use of like for as, in the second form, is objected to by many people.) Bill: Now, Mary, this is one of the round ones that attaches to the wire here. Bob (passing through the room): Hello, you two! I'll talk to you later. Bill: Yeah, see you around. Now, as I was saying, Mary, this goes here on this wire. Tom: I hate to interrupt, but someone's car is being broken into down on the street. Fred: As I was saying, these illegal practices must stop.

See also: saying