Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (19 page)

Butt out
!
Go away and mind your own business! (Rude. Said to someone who has “butted in.”)
Jane and Mary were talking when Bill came over and interrupted. “Butt out!” said Jane
.
T
OM
: Look, Mary, we've been going together for nearly a year. J
ANE
(approaching): Hi, you guys! T
OM
: Butt out, Jane! We're talking.

Buy you a drink?
Go to (Could I) buy you a drink?

By all means
.
Yes.; Absolutely.
Q: Will you help me with this? A: By all means.
A
NN
: Let's leave all the extra food with the janitor. J
AN
: By all means.

by chance
accidentally; randomly; without planning.
I found this book by chance at a book sale
.
We met by chance in a class in college.

by the same token
a phrase indicating that the speaker is introducing parallel or contrary information.
T
OM
: I really got cheated! B
OB
: You think they've cheated you, but, by the same token, they believe that you've cheated them
.
“By the same token, most people really want to be told what to do,” counseled Henry.

by the skin of
someone's
teeth
just barely.
H
ENRY
: I almost didn't make it. A
NDREW
: What happened? H
ENRY
: I had to flag down a taxi. I just made it by the skin of my teeth
.
“Well, Bob, you passed the test by the skin of your teeth,” said the teacher.

by the way
AND
incidentally 1
.
a phrase indicating that the speaker is adding information.
T
OM
: Is this one any good? C
LERK
: This is the largest and, by the way, the most expensive one we have in stock
.
B
ILL
: I'm a Realtor. Is your house for sale? A
LICE
: My house is not for sale, and, by the way, I too am a Realtor
.
2
.
a phrase indicating that the speaker is casually opening a new subject.
B
ILL
: Oh, by the way, Fred, do you still have that hammer you borrowed from me? F
RED
: I'll check. I thought I gave it back
.
J
ANE
: By the way, don't you owe me some money? S
UE
: Who, me?