here's the thing
- listenPerceive sound attentively
- actuallyIn truth, not supposedly
- honestlyIn a truthful manner
- lookDirect one's gaze
- basicallyAt the most essential level
the thing is · point · truth · matter · fact · real talk · bottom line · situation · deal · catch · issue · crux · gist · let me explain · here's the deal · frankly · essentially · in fact
directness of key point introduction
here's the thinganyway
In any case
whatever · it doesn't matter · never mind · forget it · who cares
rhetorical stance
here's the thingfor what it's worth
conversational focus and importance
here's the thingby the way
Conversational aside marker
incidentally · as an aside · anyway · tangentially · in any case