My dear wife, born in Germany, tells me that there is a phrase “The Ghost on the Stairs”.
After an evening of back-and-forthing with your friends, as you drag yourself up to bed, you think of all of those witty rejoinders you should have said.... but, too late.
Just the other night I wanted to say something regarding what a person at the dinner table said. But after only about three sentences from other people the topic was in the rear-view mirror. I kept my mouth shut. I learned that as a child after being ridiculed by older kids.
Still see it in very young kids today - which is okay for a child, sort of cute even. Where they want to join in the conversation but just don’t have it all together quickly in order to respond in an adult way. Hmmm.