Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (212 page)
Read Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts Online
Authors: Richard Spears
thinking out loud
Go to (I'm) (just) thinking out loud.
This doesn't quite suit me
.
AND
It doesn't quite suit me
.
This is not quite what I want.; This does not please me. (Compare to (It) suits me (fine).)
C
LERK
: How do you like this one? M
ARY
: It doesn't quite suit me
.B
OB
: This doesn't quite suit me. Let me see something a little darker. C
LERK
: How's this? B
OB
: Better.
This is it
!
I have discovered the right thing!; This is the one!“This is it!” shouted the scientist, holding a test tube in the air
.S
UE
: This is it! This is the book that has all the shrimp recipes. M
ARY
: I never saw anybody get so happy about shrimp!
This is my floor
.
a phrase said by someone at the back of an elevator suggesting that people make way for an exit at a particular floor.Mary said, “This is my floor,” and everyone made room for her to get out of the elevator
.“Out, please,” said Tom loudly. “This is my floor!
”
This is
someone. Go to Speaking.
This is where I came in
.
I have heard all this before. (When someone begins watching a film after it has begun, this phrase is said when the second showing of the film reaches familiar scenes.)John sat through a few minutes of the argument, and when Tom and Alice kept saying the same thing over and over, John said, “This is where I came in,” and he left the room
.The speaker stood up and asked again for a new vote on the proposal. “This is where I came in,” muttered Jane as she headed for the door.
This isn't happening
.
Go to (Tell me) this isn't happening.
This one's on me
.
I will pay for the treat this time. (Usually said in reference to buying drinks. Compare to It's on me.)As the waiter set down the glasses, Fred said, “This one's on me.
”J
OHN
: Check, please. B
ILL
: No, this one's on me.
This taken?
Go to (Is) this (seat) taken?
Those were the days
.
The days we have been referring to were the greatest of times.A: Ah, yes. The eighties. B: Those were the days!Those were the days. Back when people knew right from wrong.