Two words — "I'm honored" — but they're stunners.

"It's good to see you." This would replace the pitifully ubiquitous "How are you?" Are there any three more overused and meaning-free words in our society today? For one thing, let's stop pretending we care, because we don't. With the exception of two or three very close friends and the small group of people who share my home and my credit-card account, I don't really want to know about your most recent attack of ulcerative colitis. I know it's bad, seriously, I do, and I hope you feel better now, but I don't want to hear about it. I just said "how are you?" because you're standing near the coffee machine, and I didn't manage to look away in time. But honestly, it's good to see you, and I really do mean that. (Also, in this age of voicemail, e-mail, and text messaging, much of the time it is good to see anyone.)

warren bell has written a piece for the NRO that proposes new phrases for use in conversation. pretty funny read.