Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (194 page)

Supposed to
.
Go to (Someone or something is) supposed to (do something).

Supposing I do?
Go to Suppose I do?

Supposing I don't?
Go to Suppose I don't?

Sure
.
Yes, certainly. (See also Oh, sure (someone or something will)!)
M
ARY
: This okay? J
ANE
: Sure
.
B
ILL
: Want to go to a movie with me Saturday? S
UE
: Sure, why not?

Sure as shooting
!
Absolutely! (An elaboration of Sure.)
B
ILL
: Are you going to be there Monday night? B
OB
: Sure as shooting!
B
OB
: Will you take this over to the main office? B
ILL
: Sure as shooting!

Sure thing
.
Yes.; Of course.
S
UE
: Will you be at the reception? B
OB
: Sure thing.
B
ILL
: You remember my cousin, Tom, don't you? B
OB
: Sure thing. Hi, Tom.

swap
something
out
Go to change something out.

Tah-dah
!
a phrase introducing or pointing to something that is supposed to be exciting.
“Tah-dah,” said Alice. “This is my new car!
”
B
ILL
: Tah-dah! Everyone, meet Mrs. Wilson! M
ARY
: Hello, Mrs. Wilson.

take a potshot at
someone or something to criticize someone or something; to include a criticism of someone or something in a broader or more general criticism.
Daily, the media took potshots at the foolish politician
.
John is taking potshots at me in his condemnation of office workers.

Take a shotgun approach to the problem
.
Attempt to solve a problem with methods that are far broader and more general than what is required. (The blast of a shotgun is very wide and can hit many things in addition to the actual target.)
We need to concentrate on cause and effect here. Let's figure out exactly what is wrong and propose the best solution to fix just that. We are not just going to take a shotgun approach to the problem
.
The doctor prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic. He wanted to start out by taking a shotgun approach to the infection while the lab worked to identify the pathogen.