meaning - What does "For what it's worth" mean?


I hear it often, and can usually derive a sentence's meaning with or without it. What does it really mean? When would one use it?



Answer



It means 'whether or not this is of any use/value'.



For what it's worth, I'm very sorry I broke the window.



means, for example, that it may not make any difference to the physical state of the window, but that hopefully the apology helps placate you.


It's almost a kind of self-deprecation; it's saying 'No words of mine will be adequate, but...'


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