The "I’ll Be Back In A Sec," Thing
Why do people use the phrase, "I’ll be back in a sec"? To me, this is the most pointless phrase in the English language. It is not an accurate measure of time. If someone really was going somewhere for exactly one second, they would not have to tell the other person that they would be back in a sec because they would not be out of sight. They would take four, maybe five steps tops, and then have to turn around and come back in order to stay in the one second time frame.
I can’t speak for the other six point four billion people on this earth, but I’d like to hear it straight. None of this sugar coated, "I’ll be back in a sec," thing that leaves you expecting to actually see the other person again before the turn of the century.
I want to know exactly how much time I have before the person returns be it thirty seconds, ten minutes, or four hours. I might be able to accomplish some things during this time instead of checking my watch over and over and wondering how long a sec actually is. I could be eating a seven course meal or shoe shopping or doing taxes.
Everybody has a different idea of what a sec is. Some people say, "I’ll be back in a sec," and a short time later they return after going to the bathroom or asking someone an important question. Other people say, "I’ll be back in a sec," and you don’t hear from them until Christmas.
I’d just like to know what I’m getting into:
"I’ll be back in a sec."
"No, really. How long are you going to be?"
"I’m not going to lie to you. You’re not going to see me again until April."
I could live with this. It’s the unknown sec that I dread hearing about
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