Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (179 page)

Same to ya
.
Go to (The) same to you.

(The)
same to you
.
AND
Right back at you.; You too
.
(Both are slangy, and the second is more cheeky than the first.)
1
.
a polite way of returning good wishes to someone.
C
LERK
: Have a nice day. S
ALLY
: The same to you
.
B
OB
: I hope things work out for you. Happy New Year! B
ILL
: You too. Bye-bye
.
A: Merry Christmas, Fred. B: Right back at you, Bob
.
2
.
(Usually
Same to ya
.
) I return your criticism or epithet. (Slang. With the accent on
to
.)
T
OM
: You're such a pest! B
ILL
: Same to ya!
T
OM
: I hope you go out and fall in a hole! B
ILL
: Same to you
.
A: Hey, Matt! You really stunk in your last gig! B: Right back at you, amateur!

Save it
!
Stop talking!; Shut up! (Informal.)
I've heard enough. Save it!
Save it! You talk too much!

say
a word used to catch someone's attention and announce that a sentence—probably a question—follows. (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.)
B
OB
: Say, don't I know you from somewhere? R
ACHEL
: I hope not
.
“Say, why don't you stay on your side?” screamed Tom at the other boys
.
A
NDREW
: Say, where did I see
that can opener? R
ACHEL
: You saw it where you left it after you last used it.

Say cheese
!
an expression used by photographers to get people to smile, which they must do while saying the word
cheese
.
“All of you please stand still and say cheese!” said the photographer
.
“Is everybody ready? Say cheese!” asked Mary, holding the camera to her face.