We’ve all been there — you’re telling a story at dinner, and halfway through, you notice people’s eyes starting to glaze over. Someone checks their phone. Another person suddenly finds their salad very interesting.
Ouch.
Here’s the thing: most of us aren’t naturally gifted storytellers. We ramble, we lose the thread, we forget the punchline. And honestly? That’s totally normal.
But I’ve learned something over the years. Keeping people engaged isn’t about being the most charismatic person in the room. It’s about knowing a few strategic phrases that signal “hey, stay with me, this is about to get good.”
I used to be terrible at this. I’d launch into these long-winded tales about my day, complete with every boring detail, and wonder why people seemed… well, bored.
Then I started paying attention to the people who could hold a room. The ones whose stories made you lean in closer. And I noticed they all used certain phrases at just the right moments.
So today, I’m sharing that with you. Here are the conversation tidbits that actually work:
1. “But here’s the kicker…”
This is your secret weapon when you want to signal that the story is about to take a turn.
I love using this one because it does two things at once — it tells people that everything they just heard is about to be flipped on its head, AND it gives them permission to mentally reset and pay attention again.
“So I finally got the promotion I’d been working toward for two years. But here’s the kicker — my new boss turned out to be my ex’s best friend.”
See? Instant intrigue.
It works because you’re essentially saying: “I know you might be checking out, but trust me, you don’t want to miss what comes next.”
2. “Now here’s where it gets interesting…”
This phrase is pure gold when you’re in the middle of a story and you can feel the energy dipping.
Maybe you’ve been setting up context, explaining background details, doing the necessary but slightly boring groundwork. That’s when you drop this line.
“I was waiting in line at the DMV for like an hour, filling out forms, the usual nightmare. Now here’s where it gets interesting — the guy in front of me suddenly turns around and asks if I’m related to the governor.”
It’s like hitting a reset button on people’s attention spans.
Plus, it gives you a natural pause to take a breath and gear up for the good part. I use this one all the time, and it never fails to bring wandering eyes back to me.
3. “Riddle me this…”
This phrase is perfect when you want to pull people into your story by making them think.
It’s got this conversational, almost conspiratorial quality that makes your audience feel like they’re figuring things out alongside you rather than just passively listening.
“So my neighbor hasn’t spoken to me in three weeks. Riddle me this — why would she suddenly show up at my door yesterday with homemade cookies and an apology?”
What I love about this phrase is that it transforms your story into a bit of a puzzle. People naturally want to solve riddles, so they lean in and pay attention to see if they can guess what’s coming.
It also gives you a moment to pause and let the question sit, which builds anticipation beautifully. I use it when I want people to feel invested in the outcome, not just entertained by it.
4. “Wait, it gets better…”
Sometimes your story has multiple peaks, and you need to signal that you’re not done yet.
This happened to me just last week. I was telling my friend about this nightmare shopping trip where I’d locked my keys in the car at the mall.
I got to what I thought was the punchline — having to call a locksmith and wait in the parking lot for an hour in the heat.
But then I remembered the best part.
“So yeah, I’m standing there sweating, waiting for the locksmith. Wait, it gets better — when he finally shows up and unlocks the car, we discover my keys weren’t even in there. They were in my purse the whole time.”
This phrase is perfect for layering. It tells people: “I know what you’re thinking, but hold on, there’s more.”
I’ve found it works especially well when you’re building to a truly ridiculous or unbelievable conclusion. It creates this sense of “how much more absurd can this get?”
5. “Mind you…”
This is one of my favorites because it adds context or emphasis right when you need it most.
It’s subtle but powerful. You use it to add an important detail that changes how people should interpret what you just said, or to highlight something they might have missed.
“My boss said I could leave early on Friday. Mind you, this is the same boss who once made me work through a holiday weekend.”
See how it works? It’s like saying, “Don’t forget this crucial piece of information that makes what I just told you even more significant.”
I also love using it to add a bit of sass or irony to a story. It gives you permission to editorialize without stopping the flow of your narrative.
6. “Now granted…”
This phrase is your friend when you need to acknowledge a counterpoint or add nuance without derailing your story.
Here’s why it’s so useful: sometimes when you’re telling a story, there’s an obvious objection or qualification that needs to be addressed. If you ignore it, people start thinking about it instead of listening. But if you acknowledge it head-on, you keep control.
“She never responded to any of my texts for three days. Now granted, she did tell me she’d be camping with no cell service, but still — I was convinced she was ghosting me.”
What I appreciate about this phrase is that it makes you seem more credible as a storyteller because you’re not trying to paint yourself as perfect or always right.
7. “But check this out…”
This is the phrase I use when I want to inject energy and excitement right back into a story.
It’s casual, it’s direct, and it has this quality of “okay, I’m about to show you something cool.” It works especially well when you’re transitioning to the most interesting or unexpected part of your tale.
“I was ready to just forget the whole thing and go home. But check this out — as I’m walking to my car, I run into my high school English teacher who happens to work for the company I’d just interviewed with.”
The beauty of “but check this out” is its versatility. You can use it for something funny, something surprising, something outrageous, It adapts to whatever tone you need.
Plus, it has this conversational quality that makes people feel like you’re sharing insider information with them. Like you’re saying, “Look at this thing I discovered.”
8. “Long story short…”
Okay, here’s the hilarious truth about this phrase — it’s a complete lie.
When someone says “long story short,” buckle up, because the story is about to get LONGER.
I caught myself doing this the other day. I was telling my sister about drama at work, and I said “long story short” and then proceeded to talk for another fifteen minutes. She called me out on it, and we both cracked up because it’s so true.
“Long story short, my coworker thought I was trying to steal her project idea, so she sent a passive-aggressive email to the entire team, which led to this whole meeting where everyone had to air their grievances, and then it turned out she’d actually stolen MY idea from a memo I sent last month, but she’d ‘forgotten’ about it…”
See what I mean? It’s not short at all.
But here’s why this phrase is actually genius — it’s a warning signal that you’re about to spill some serious tea. It tells your audience: “Okay, I’m aware this story is getting long, but trust me, you’re going to want to hear all of this.”
It’s like you’re giving yourself permission to keep going while also acknowledging that you know you’ve been talking a while. And somehow, people accept it! They settle in for the ride because you’ve basically announced that the juicy part is coming.
I think we use it as a sort of transitional breath. Like, “I’ve been telling you all this background, and now I’m going to tie it all together with the really good stuff.”
So don’t feel bad about using “long story short” and then rambling for another five minutes. Everyone does it. It’s basically code for “get comfortable, because I’m about to give you ALL the details.”
The bottom line
Look, being a good storyteller isn’t about having the craziest experiences or being the funniest person in the room.
It’s about knowing how to guide your audience through the story. These phrases are like signposts that tell people when to pay extra attention, when something unexpected is coming, when you’re settling in to spill some tea.
I still mess up stories sometimes. I still ramble or lose my train of thought.
But ever since I started sprinkling these phrases into my storytelling, I’ve noticed people leaning in instead of checking out. And I won’t deny it, that feels pretty good.
So next time you’re telling a story and you feel the energy dipping, try one of these. You might be surprised at how quickly you can hook people back in.
