Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (188 page)

So (what)?
Why does that matter? (Colloquial or familiar. Can be considered rude.)
B
OB
: Your attitude always seems to lack sincerity. M
ARY
: So what?
J
OHN
: Your car sure is dusty. S
UE
: So?

(So) what else is new?
This isn't new. It has happened before.; Not this again.
M
ARY
: Taxes are going up again. B
OB
: So what else is new?
J
OHN
: Gee, my pants are getting tight. Maybe I'm putting on a little weight. S
ALLY
: What else is new?

Some people (just) don't know when to give up
.
Go to Some people (just) don't know when to quit.

Some people (just) don't know when to quit
.
AND
Some people (just) don't know when to give up. 1
.
You, or someone being talked about, should stop doing something, such as talking, arguing, scolding, etc. (Often directed at the person being addressed rather than some people in general.)
B
ILL
: I hate to say it again, but that lipstick is all wrong for you. It brings out the wrong color in your eyes, and it makes your mouth look larger than it really is. J
ANE
: Oh, stop, stop! That's enough! Some people just don't know when to quit
.
J
OHN
: Those bushes out in the backyard need trimming. S
ALLY
: You keep criticizing! Is there no end to it? Some people don't know when to quit!
2
.
Some people do not know when to slow down and stop working so hard.
B
OB
: We were afraid that John might have had a heart attack. B
ILL
: I'm not surprised. He works so hard. Some people don't know when to quit
.
J
ANE
: He just kept on gambling. Finally, he had no money left. S
ALLY
: Some people don't know when to quit.

(Someone
had) better keep quiet about it
.
Go to (Someone had) better keep still about it.

(
Someone
had) better keep still about it
.
AND
(Someone
had) better keep quiet about it
.
an admonition that someone ought not to tell about or discuss something. (The
someone
can stand for any person's name, any pronoun, or even the word
someone
meaning “you-know-who.” If there is no
Someone had
, the phrase is a mild admonition to keep quiet about something.)
M
ARY
: I saw you with Bill last night. J
ANE
: You'd better keep quiet about it
.
J
ANE
: Tom found out what you're giving Sally for her birthday. B
ILL
: He had better keep quiet about it!

(
Someone
) looks like something the cat dragged in
.
Someone looks rumpled or worn out. (Jocular. Compare to Look (at) what the cat dragged in!)
A
LICE
: Tom just came in. He looks like something the cat dragged in. What do you suppose happened to him?
R
ACHEL
: Wow! Did you see Sue? J
ANE
: Yes. Looks like something the cat dragged in.