Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (147 page)

Look who's talking
!
You are guilty of doing what you have criticized someone else for doing or accused someone else of doing.
A
NDREW
: You criticize me for being late! Look who's talking! You just missed your flight! J
ANE
: Well, nobody's perfect
.
M
ARY
: You just talk and talk, you go on much too long about practically nothing, and you never give a chance for anyone else to talk, and you just don't know when to stop! S
ALLY
: Look who's talking!

Looking good
.
AND
Lookin' good
.
Someone is doing well.; Things are progressing nicely.
A: Our project is halfway completed and beginning to take shape. B: Sure is. Lookin' good, chum. Keep up the good work
.
Nice work, Sally. Looking good. Glad you'll finish on time.

Looks like something the cat dragged in
.
Go to (Someone) looks like something the cat dragged in.

Loose lips sink ships
.
Idle talk can reveal secret or privileged information. (From a World War II slogan, which was more literal.)
Okay, people. We're going to be working on a top secret project that management wants to present to the board. This is not to be discussed with anyone else inside the company and, of course, no one on the outside. Remember: “Loose lips sink ships.
”
Now keep this quiet. Not a word to anyone. Loose lips sink ships, as they used to say.

Lord knows I've tried
.
I certainly have tried very hard.
A
LICE
: Why don't you get Bill to fix this fence? M
ARY
: Lord knows I've tried. I must have asked him a dozen times—this year alone
.
S
UE
: I can't seem to get to class on time. R
ACHEL
: That's just awful. S
UE
: Lord knows I've tried. I just can't do it.

lose
one's
train of thought
to forget what one was talking about.
A
NDREW
: I had something important on my mind, but that telephone call made me lose my train of thought. M
ARY
: Did it have anything to do with money, such as the money you owe me? A
NDREW
: I can't remember
.
T
OM
: Now, let's take a look at, uh. Well, next I want to talk about something that is very important. M
ARY
: I think you lost your train of thought. T
OM
: Don't interrupt. You'll make me forget what I'm saying.

Lots of luck
!
I wish you luck, and you will need it, but it probably will not do any good.
B
ILL
: I'm going to try to get my tax bill lowered. T
OM
: Lots of luck!
M
ARY
: I'll go in there and get him to change his mind, you just watch! S
ALLY
: Lots of luck!