h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been thinking about this a little bit since Stephen Fry mentioned it on Room 101.

I think that when used in the context of relating something that was said, its main effect is to indicate that the words given reflect merely the flavor of the speech, not the literal content.

I may have said (literally) "Excuse me sir, I would request that you please cease and desist your verbal barrage upon my good self".

When relating the events to friends in the pub however, I won't say quite those words. They'll gain a much better understanding of the event if I say "Yeah, and I was like, 'Get outa my face, man!'".

This is useful when the summarised version is pithier, funnier and more succinct than what was really said, but lacking any implication that you actually said it.

This allows you to use in conversation the superior version (which you only thought of 5 minutes after the event) and enhance your status within the yarn (e.g. make you sound more intelligent, funny, macho) without being shown up as a teller of untruths if the literal version of your words later emerges.

Well said, a perfect example of how inarticulate Americans are and how willingly the rest of us are prepeared to follow!