Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (115 page)

I'm set. 1
.
I have everything I need. (As in
ready, set, go
. Also in the third person.)
Q: Do you have what you need for the day, so you can work interrupted? A: I'm set
.
He's set and ready to go to work
.
2
.
I have finished eating (in a restaurant) and would like to have the check. (Also in the other persons.)
I'm set. Check, please
.
He's set, but I want dessert.

(I'm so hungry) I could eat a cow
!
Go to (I'm so hungry) I could eat a horse!

(I'm so hungry) I could eat a horse
!
AND
(I'm so hungry) I could eat a cow
!
I am really hungry!
A: Man, I'm so hungry I could eat a cow! B: Great. We are having hamburgers
.
D
ON
: What's for dinner? I could eat a horse! F
ATHER
: We're clean out of horse. Would baked ham, sweet potatoes, creamed peas, macaroni and cheese, and cherry pie do? D
ON
: Sure! F
ATHER
: Sorry, we're out of that too.

(I'm) sorry
.
the phrase used for a simple apology.
B
ILL
: Oh! You stepped on my toe! B
OB
: I'm sorry
.
J
OHN
: You made me miss my bus! S
UE
: Sorry.

(I'm) sorry to hear that
.
an expression of consolation.
J
OHN
: My cat died last week. J
ANE
: I'm sorry to hear that
.
B
ILL
: I'm afraid I won't be able to continue here as head teller. M
ARY
: Sorry to hear that.

(I'm) sorry you asked (that)
.
I regret that you asked about something I wanted to forget.
T
OM
: What on earth is this hole in your suit jacket? B
ILL
: I'm sorry you asked. I was feeding a squirrel and it bit through my pocket where the food was
.
S
ALLY
: Why is there only canned soup in the cupboard? J
OHN
: Sorry you asked that. We're broke. We have no money for food. S
ALLY
: Want some soup?

I'm speechless
.
I am so surprised that I cannot think of anything to say.
M
ARY
: Fred and I were married last week. S
ALLY
: I'm speechless
.
T
OM
: The mayor just died! J
ANE
: What? I'm speechless!