Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (127 page)

(It's) not half bad
.
It is not as bad as one might have thought.
M
ARY
: How do you like this play? J
ANE
: Not half bad
.
J
ANE
: Well, how do you like college? F
RED
: It's not half bad.

It's not over 'til it's over
.
There is still hope for things to go the way I want until the entire event is over.
Don't leave the stadium now! They haven't won the game yet. It's not over 'til it's over
.
It looks bad for our side, but it's not over 'til it's over.

(It's) not supposed to
.
AND
(Someone's)
not supposed to
.
a phrase indicating that someone or something is not meant to do something. (Often with a person's name or a pronoun as a subject.)
F
RED
: This little piece keeps falling off. C
LERK
: It's not supposed to
.
B
ILL
: Tom just called from Detroit and says he's coming back tomorrow. M
ARY
: That's funny. He's not supposed to.

It's not worth the trouble
.
Go to It isn't worth the trouble.

It's on me
.
I will pay this bill. (Usually a bill for a meal or drinks. Compare to This one's on me.)
As the waiter set down the glasses, Fred said, “It's on me” and grabbed the check
.
J
OHN
: Check, please. B
ILL
: No, it's on me this time.

(It's) out of the question
.
It cannot be done.; No! (A polite but very firm “No!”)
J
ANE
: I think we should buy a watchdog. J
OHN
: Out of the question
.
J
OHN
: Can we go to the mountains for a vacation this year? J
ANE
: It's out of the question.

It's six of one and half a dozen of another
.
AND
It's six of one and half a dozen of the other
.
Either choice will have about the same result.; Neither choice is much better than the other. (Sometimes
a half dozen
rather than
half a dozen.
)
H
ANNA
: I simply can't choose between going to Florida or Arizona for the winter. Lots of reasons on both sides. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. I
DA
: Then just flip a coin, silly
.
What does it matter whether you choose pinkish red or reddish pink. It's six of one and half a dozen of another.