Wondering about this one as I heard it on the radio at the weekend and in the context of 'you know' (as in the figure of speech you'd throw in at the end of a sentence).
I just thought it meant 'as they say' but can it mean 'you know' as well?

Just realised they are both similar turns of phrases really, that is 'you know' or 'as you would say/ as they say' but I guess I always just thought 'tá fhios 'ad ' would be for 'you know' as I always hear ppl saying 'tá fhios 'am' to show they understand someone.

! Sorry if I'm being overly pedantic here, but I'm genuinely wondering can I use 'mar a déarfá' instead of 'tá fhios 'ad'.

:)

(Message edited by sineadw on September 27, 2009)

Braitheann sé. Tá "Tá fhios agam/agat" níos dearfaí/cinnte ná "Mar a déarfá". Bheadh amhras éigin i gceist leis an gceann sin.

Cloisfeá "mar a déarfá" go minic nuair a déanann cainteoir tagairt do rud éigin as Bearla. "Déanfar instealladh airgid isteach sa chóras, quantitative easing mar a déarfa". Is brea liom é sin - maolaíonn sé an éifeacht.

I've also heard people use "dtuigeann tú" as a filler as well, and "saghas".

Mar a déarfá "as you might say" can be used as a filler at a pause in a sentence.

(Message edited by seánw on September 29, 2009)