Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (158 page)

No kidding! 1
.
You are not kidding me, are you? (An expression of mild surprise.)
J
ANE
: I got elected vice president. B
ILL
: No kidding! That's great!
2
.
Everyone already knows that! Did you just find that out? (Sarcastic.)
S
UE
: It looks like taxes will be increasing. T
OM
: No kidding! What do you expect?
A
LICE
: I'm afraid I'm putting on a little weight. J
ANE
: No kidding!

No lie?
You are not lying, are you?
B
ILL
: A plane just landed on the interstate highway outside of town! T
OM
: No lie? Come on! It didn't really, did it? B
ILL
: It did too! T
OM
: Let's go see it!
B
OB
: I'm going to take a trip up the Amazon. S
UE
: No lie?

No more than I have to
.
an answer to the greeting question “What are you doing?”
B
OB
: Hey, Fred. What you been doing? F
RED
: No more than I have to
.
S
UE
: Hi, Bill. How are you? B
ILL
: Okay. What have you been doing? S
UE
: No more than I have to.

No need (to)
.
Go to (There is) no need (to).

No news is good news
.
Hearing nothing (about a matter) indicates that all is well.
D
ON
: Has anyone heard anything about the results of the storm? Was anyone injured? H
ANNA
: Not yet. In this case, no news is good news
.
Somebody tell me! Have they accepted my proposal? Why are they taking so long? No news is good news, but is no news good for me or them?

No, no, a thousand times no
!
Very definitely, no! (Jocular.)
B
OB
: Here, have some sweet potatoes. B
ILL
: No, thanks. B
OB
: Oh, come on! B
ILL
: No, no, a thousand times no!
S
UE
: The water is a little cold, but it's great. Come on in. B
ILL
: How cold? S
UE
: Well, just above freezing, I guess. Come on in! B
ILL
: No, no, a thousand times no!

No offense meant
.
I did not mean to offend by what I just said, did, or implied. (A formulaic way of asking for pardon or forgiveness. See No offense taken.)
Sorry. I know that sounded rude. No offense meant
.
J
AN
: That perfume's a little strong. Oops. No offense meant. M
ARIA
: No offense taken.