Who coined this annoying phrase? I've gone through twenty plus years of my life content with 'Thank you' and 'Thank you very much' - I don't need a hybrid of the two. What's the point anyway? Is this to say you're more thankful than a simple 'Thank you' yet not quite thankful enough to warrant a 'Thank you very much' or 'Thanks a lot'?

I'm not sure why I've begun hearing this so much the past couple of years but I find it ridiculous. Let's phase this out.