Have you ever noticed that when someone introduces a topic of conversation, they frequently begin with an expression like 'Have you ever noticed..?'
It is not really a question - it is more a way of 'teeing up' what you want to say - like a golfer placing his ball on the little plastic tee in order to make a good shot.
Another useful conversation opener is the phrase : 'It's amazing, isn't it..' If one took these expressions literally, one would be constantly amazed or amused, because another favourite way of breaing the silence is to announce the homour or curiousness of the subject: 'It's funny, I don't think anybody has said anything yet.'
Gossips like to make sure everbody knows who they are talking about : 'You know Mrs Perkins , the butcher's wife,...well I saw her at the chemist's this moring...' and so it goes on.
One good ploy is to pretend that you have just remembered something - a good way of breaking the silence, but also a useful way of interrupting : 'Oh, there's something I was going to tell you...'.
