Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (205 page)

That's (just) too much! 1
.
That is unpleasant and unacceptable!; That is more than I can bear!
“That's just too much!” exclaimed Sue, and she walked out
.
B
ILL
: I'm afraid this movie isn't what we thought it was going to be. S
UE
: Did you see that? That's too much! Let's go!
2
.
That is just too funny. (Compare to You're too much!)
After Fred finished the joke, and Bill had stopped howling with laughter, Bill said, “That's too much! Tell a sad one for a change.
”
When Tom stopped laughing, his sides ached and he had tears in his eyes. “Oh, that's too much!” he moaned.

That's just what you need
.
Go to That's all someone needs.

That's more like it
.
That is better.; That is a better response than the previous one.
W
AITER
: Here is your order, sir. Roast chicken as you requested. Sorry about the mix-up. J
OHN
: That's more like it
.
C
LERK
: Now, here's one that you might like. S
ALLY
: Now, that's more like it!

That's neither here nor there
.
That is irrelevant.
I don't care if you prefer beef over lamb. That's neither here nor there. The preferences of our guests are what matter
.
W
AITER
: But it's raining, and everyone will come in with umbrellas and wet coats. C
HEF
: That's neither here nor there. If we don't have the food prepared on time, we'll be fired whether the customers are wet or dry
.
A: Fred can bring games for the children, and Mary can bring party hats. B: That's neither here nor there—since the party has been cancelled.

That's news to me
.
I did not know that.; I had not been informed of that.
B
ILL
: They've blocked off Maple Street for some repairs. T
OM
: That's news to me
.
S
ALLY
: The telephones are out. None of them work. B
ILL
: That's news to me. I made a call just five minutes ago.

(That's) no skin off my nose
.
AND
(That's) no skin off my teeth
.
That does not embarrass me.; That causes me no difficulty or harm. (Colloquial. The second form is borrowed from the metaphor by the skin of someone's teeth, meaning just barely. The first form has additional variations—most of them vulgar.)
B
ILL
: Everybody around here seems to think you're the one to blame. B
OB
: So what? I'm not to blame. It's no skin off my teeth, whatever they think
.
B
ILL
: Sally is going to quit her job and go to Tampa. B
OB
: No skin off my nose! I don't care what she does.