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"Let's be friends"

This one is to all the clingy ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends out there.

Hollywood movies have taught me and probably a lot of other people that when you break up with someone, you end the relationship by saying "Let's just be friends".

It leaves behind an impression that you have broken up on good terms and cherish whatever memories you have. Of course, this is almost never true. Breakups are never mutual nor do relationships end in good terms.

Saying "Let's be friends" is just a polite way of saying "Let's never meet again". (By the way, that is not my definition of "being friends", but in this context, that is what the phrase is supposed to mean)

I don't know if the American people say "Let's just be friends" and part their ways. What I do know is, in India, people take this phrase in its true meaning. i.e, people want to be "friends" after a break up. The only existing record of such an incident occurring was in a sitcom.

It doesn't work that way. You don't literally mean you want to be friends with your ex. You have enough friends already. It's just a courtesy.

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