Learn some common everyday American expressions.
You could have fooled me: I would have
thought otherwise.
e.g. "We're not getting along well;
we've too many differences." "You
could have fooled me! I thought the two of you are cut out for
each other."
What gives?: what's wrong?
what's the problem?
e.g. "You were screaming at each
other. What gives?"
Get right on it: do it
immediately.
e.g. "Can you help me with this
software?" "I'll get right on
it."
Search me: I don't know; I
don't have the answer.
e.g. "Do you know the author of this
quotation?" "Search me."
You don't know the half of it: it is worse than
what you think.
e.g. "The company is having some
financial problems." "You
don't know the half of it. I tell you what; it might even go
bankrupt."
Says who?: who do you think
you are to say that?
e.g. "I heard you were reprimanded by
your boss for being late again." "Says who?"
You said a mouthful: you said what
needs to be said.
e.g. "The movie was disappointing: the
story was uninteresting; the acting was bad; and it was too long."
"Yes, you said a mouthful!"
What would you say if: asking for an
opinion; what about?
e.g. "I heard you were recently
offered a job." "What would
you say if I decline the offer?"
No sweat: it's ok; no problem.
e.g. "I'm sorry I'm late." "No
sweat! We've all the time in the world."
What about it?: so what?
e.g. "You were late for the
meeting." "What about it? I didn't want to come in the first
place."
Over my dead body: absolutely not!
e.g. "Can I come with you? "
"Over my dead body!"
Knock it off: shut up!; be
quiet.
e.g. "Knock it off! You and
your big mouth!"
Can't beat that: no one can do
better than that.
e.g. "Of all people, I finished the
project in less than a week. Can't beat that."
It works for me: it's fine with
me
No can do: I cannot do it..
e.g. "Can you do this now?"
"No can do."
So much for that: that's the end of
that
e.g. "Well, so much for that.
I'm not going to get involved any more. That's it!"
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by
Stephen Lau
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