Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (161 page)

Not again
!
I cannot believe that it happened again!
M
ARY
: The sink is leaking again. S
ALLY
: Not again! M
ARY
: Yes, again
.
F
RED
: Here comes Tom with a new girlfriend. S
UE
: Not again!

Not always
.
a conditional negative response.
J
OHN
: Do you come here every day? J
ANE
: No, not always
.
J
OHN
: Do you find that this condition usually clears up by itself? D
OCTOR
: Not always.

Not anymore
.
The facts just mentioned are no longer true.; A previous situation no longer exists.
M
ARY
: This cup of coffee you asked me to bring you looks cold. Do you still want it? S
ALLY
: Not anymore
.
T
OM
: Do the Wilsons live on Maple Street? B
OB
: Not anymore.

Not at all
.
a very polite response to Thank you or some other expression of gratitude.
J
OHN
: Thank you. J
ANE
: Not at all
.
M
ARY
: I want to thank you very much for all your help. S
UE
: Not at all. Happy to do it.

Not bad. 1
.
It is quite satisfactory.
B
ILL
: How do you like your new teacher? J
ANE
: Not bad
.
B
OB
: Is this one okay? B
ILL
: I guess. Yeah. Not bad
.
2
.
It is really quite good. (The person or thing can be named, as in the examples.)
J
OHN
: How do you like that new car of yours? M
ARY
: Not bad. Not bad at all
.
T
OM
: This one looks great to me. What do you think? S
UE
: It's not bad.

Not by a long shot
.
Under no circumstances. (A negative characterization of one's appraisal of someone or something.)
B
ILL
: Are you generally pleased with the new president? M
ARY
: No, indeed, not by a long shot
.
J
OHN
: Do you find this acceptable? B
ILL
: Good grief, no! Not by a long shot.