Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (198 page)

Thank God for small favors
.
We are grateful that not everything went wrong.
Thank God for small favors. We got here on time through no fault of our own
.
What a mess! It's like trying to herd frogs into the desert around here. At least it didn't rain today. Thank God for small favors.

Thank goodness
!
AND
Thank heavens
!
Oh, I am so thankful!
J
OHN
: Well, we finally got here. Sorry we're so late. M
OTHER
: Thank goodness! We were all so worried
.
J
ANE
: There was a fire on Maple Street, but no one was hurt. B
ILL
: Thank heavens!

Thank heavens
!
Go to Thank goodness!

Thank you
.
I am grateful to you and offer you my thanks.
B
ILL
: Here, have some more cake. B
OB
: Thank you
.
J
OHN
: Your hair looks nice. M
ARY
: Thank you.

Thank you a lot
.
Go to Thanks (a lot).

Thank you for a lovely evening
.
an expression said by a departing guest to the host or hostess at the end of an evening. (Other adjectives, such as
nice
, can be used in place of
lovely
.)
M
ARY
: Thank you for a lovely evening. J
OHN
: Will I see you again?
B
ILL
: Thank you for a nice evening. M
ARY
: Thank you so much for coming. Good night.

Thank you for a lovely time
.
an expression said by a departing guest to the host or hostess. (Other adjectives, such as
nice
, can be used in place of
lovely
.)
B
ILL
: Thank you for a nice time. M
ARY
: Thank you so much for coming. Bye now
.
J
OHN
: Thank you so much for coming. J
ANE
: Well, thank you for a lovely time. J
OHN
: Don't stay away so long next time.

Thank you for calling
.
Thank you for calling on the telephone. (Said when the call is helpful or a bother to the caller.)
M
ARY
: Good-bye. S
UE
: Good-bye, thanks for calling
.
J
OHN
: Okay. Well, I have to get off the phone. I just wanted you to know what was happening with your order. J
ANE
: Okay. Bye. Thanks for calling.