The informal usage of "like" in the UK

[BRENOIRONMAIDEN]

Was already used in the UK, on the 80's, the word "like" in an informal form??

Examples:

"He was like, about the same age as me, but like, I wasn't sure what he, like, wanted to do with me."

"A covalent bond is, like, when the atoms share electrons, right?"

In the UK, is used only to introduce a quote?

Examples:

He was, like, "Where are you going?"

So I was like, "duuuude" and he was all "baaaabe".

This informal usage of "like" is used only in the USA??
This informal usage of "like" is used only today??

[emsr2d2]

Was already used in the UK, on the 80's, the word "like" in an informal form??

Examples:

"He was like, about the same age as me, but like, I wasn't sure what he, like, wanted to do with me."

"A covalent bond is, like, when the atoms share electrons, right?"

In the UK, is used only to introduce a quote?

Examples:

He was, like, "Where are you going?"

So I was like, "duuuude" and he was all "baaaabe".

This informal usage of "like" is used only in the USA??
This informal usage of "like" is used only today??

Sadly, the use of this word has spread like wildfire across the UK too. Personally, I find it extremely annoying, probably because it is used too much these days. It is a pointless word, not really adding anything to the sentence. Having said that, I find myself using it occasionally!!!

It's not only used to introduce a quote. For example,

"I was, like, really tired yesterday."
"There were, like, a thousand people there."

[skype2teach]

Haha, yes this is a terrible habit to pick up. I developed this when i was a kid of age 7 or so.

My grandma used to tell me, this and excessive swearing were the result of someone who had a reduced vocabulary and were not able to articulate themselves adequately.

My sister had a good way of breaking it for me. Whenever i was trying to tell her a story or anything for that matter, and i continued to say like outside its formal use, she interrupted me saying; "Not like, either it was or it wasn't".

It didnt take long before that was so annoying, my brain paused before i was about to say, as I was so sick of hearing her say that to me.

Next time you hear it though, listen to the conversation's depth, it tends to be lacking.

[BRENOIRONMAIDEN]

But, in the UK, this informal usage of "like" is used only today??
Was already used in the UK, on the 80's???

[bhaisahab]

But, in the UK, this informal usage of "like" is used only today??
Was it already used in the UK, on the 80's???

Not as far as I remember.

[emsr2d2]

But, in the UK, this informal usage of "like" is used only today??
Was already used in the UK, on the 80's???

I would say that I've really only noticed it becoming prevalent in the UK in perhaps the last 8-10 years.

[BRENOIRONMAIDEN]

I would say that I've really only noticed it becoming prevalent in the UK in perhaps the last 8-10 years.

thanks

[BRENOIRONMAIDEN]

Not as far as I remember.

On this video of the band "iron maiden" in 1982, the usage of the word "like", adding something to the sentence (it's a comparison) or it's used randomly (informal usage)??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3b8gB_6ut8 (between 1:08 - 1:25)

[BRENOIRONMAIDEN]

Sadly, the use of this word has spread like wildfire across the UK too. Personally, I find it extremely annoying, probably because it is used too much these days. It is a pointless word, not really adding anything to the sentence. Having said that, I find myself using it occasionally!!!

It's not only used to introduce a quote. For example,

"I was, like, really tired yesterday."
"There were, like, a thousand people there."

On this video of the band "iron maiden" in 1982, the usage of the word "like", adding something to the sentence (it's a comparison) or it's used randomly (informal usage)??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3b8gB_6ut8 (between 1:08 - 1:25)

[Tdol]

It's adding nothing much for me- when introducing the names of countries, it could be said that these are examples rather than a complete list, but when they start talking about their name, it means nothing. It was used in the 1980s, but far less than it is now and I don't remember hearing things like 'I was like tired' then.