Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (152 page)

More power to you
!
Well done!; You really stood up for yourself!; You really did something for your own benefit! (The stress is on
to
, and the
you
is usually “ya.”)
B
ILL
: I finally told her off, but good. B
OB
: More power to you!
S
UE
: I spent years getting ready for that job, and I finally got it. M
ARY
: More power to you!

more than you('ll ever) know
a great deal, more than you suspect.
B
OB
: Why did you do it? B
ILL
: I regret doing it. I regret it more than you know
.
J
OHN
: Oh, Mary, I love you. M
ARY
: Oh, John, I love you more than you'll ever know.

Morning
.
Go to (Good) morning.

(Most) folks (around here) call me
name. My name is
my name
.; I go by the name of
my name
. (Rural or folksy. Also in other persons.)
Folks call me Travis
.
Most folks around here call me Darrell. What's your name?

Much obliged
.
Thank you.; I am obligated to you for your assistance.
A: Thank you, and here's five dollars for your trouble. B: Much obliged
.
Thanks for helping me get my truck out of the mud. I'm much obliged.

Mum's the word
.
No one will be told (this secret).
B
OB
: I hope you won't tell all this to anyone. B
ILL
: Don't worry. Mum's the word
.
“Mum's the word,” said Jane to ease Mary's mind about the secret.

Must be running along
.
Go to (I) must be running along.

my
a sentence opener expressing a little surprise or amazement. (See also My(, my). Words such as this often use intonation to convey the connotation of the sentence that is to follow. The brief intonation pattern accompanying the word may indicate sarcasm, disagreement, caution, consolation, sternness, etc.)
“My, what a nice place you have here,” said Gloria
.
R
ACHEL
: My, it's getting late! J
OHN
: Gee, the evening is just beginning
.
“My, it's hot!” said Fred, smoldering.