Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (172 page)

Please. 1
.
a response to a denial or refusal, essentially repeating the request.
B
ILL
: Can I go to the picnic on the Fourth of July? M
OTHER
: No, you can't go to the picnic. B
ILL
: Please!
T
OM
: No, Bill. You can't have a raise. B
ILL
: Please. I can hardly afford to live. T
OM
: You'll manage
.
2
.
You go first.; Give yourself priority.; Attend to your interests first.
Bob stepped back and made a motion with
his hand indicating that Mary should go first. “Please,” smiled Bob.
M
ARY
: Do you mind if I take the last piece of cake? B
OB
: Please. M
ARY
: Thanks
.
3
.
(usually
Please
!
) Please stop what you are doing!; Please do not do that!; Please do not say that! (Compare to I beg your pardon.)
M
ARY
: You always make a mess wherever you go. A
LICE
: Please! I do not!
Andrew kept bumping up against Mary in line. Finally Mary turned to him and said, “Please!
”

Please hold
.
Go to Hold the wire(, please.)

Pleased to meet you
.
Go to (I'm) pleased to meet you.

Plugging along
.
Go to (I'm) (just) plugging along.

point of view
a way of thinking about something; [someone's] viewpoint; an attitude or expression of self-interest.
From my point of view, all this talk is a waste of time
.
I can understand her point of view. She has made some good observations about the problem.

pose a question
to ask a question; to imply the need for asking a question.
Genetic research poses many ethical questions
.
My interviewer posed a hypothetical question.

Pretty good
.
I'm feeling good or well.; Things are going good or well.
Q: How are things going? A: Pretty good
.
Q: How are you doing? A: Pretty good.

Pssst
!
Look here!; Give me your attention! (A soft sound made to attract someone's attention. See also Ahem!)
Pssst! Look over here. Pssst! Charlie!
L
ARRY
(whispering): Pssst! There's a telephone call for you. Take it in the hall, please.