I never said it was only in American speech, just that it's very, very common, to the point where a lot of what Americans said made less sense to me until I rea

I never said it was only in American speech, just that it's very, very common, to the point where a lot of what Americans said made less sense to me until I realised it. Different cultures express things differently. Overstating, understating, etc etc. If you want to understand, and be understood, it's important to know.