It's Just a Saying

In a meeting, people were discussing annoying expressions "I'm afraid" came up I thought nothing of it at the time It's something I say sometimes, but I wasn't offended as it is a strange thing to say, seemingly making no sense Just now I was asked if I'd seen something on the road I was looking at my phone (I'm a passenger) My response was "I didn't I'm afraid" and I realised I was Nothing happened as I waited Then the event I missed was relayed to me and the moment passed Maybe next time in a meeting I can chip in that sometimes responding to a question with a negative can make you afraid even if it makes no sense