Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (222 page)

What are you drinking? 1
.
a phrase inquiring what someone is already drinking so that the person who asks the question can offer another drink of the same thing.
B
ILL
: Hi, Tom. Nice to see you. What are you drinking? T
OM
: Scotch and water. B
ILL
: Waiter, another scotch and water and a martini. T
OM
: Thanks, Bill
.
W
AITER
: What are you drinking, madam? S
UE
: It's just soda. No more, thanks. W
AITER
: Very good
.
2
.
a phrase inquiring what is being drunk at a particular gathering so that the person asking can request the same drink. (A way of finding out what drinks are available.)
M
ARY
: Do you want a drink? S
UE
: Yes, thanks. Say, that looks good. What are you drinking? M
ARY
: It's just ginger ale
.
B
ILL
: Can I get you something to drink? J
ANE
: What are you drinking? B
ILL
: I'm having gin and tonic. J
ANE
: I'll have that too, thanks.

What are you having?
What food or drink are you planning to order? (Either part of a conversation or a request made by food service personnel. In a restaurant, sometimes the waiter or waitress will signal to a guest to order first by saying this. Sometimes asked of the person paying for the food or drink to determine the appropriate price range.)
W
AITER
: Would you care to order now? T
OM
: What are you having, Mary? M
ARY
: You order. I haven't made up my mind
.
W
AITER
: May I help you? T
OM
: What are you having
,
Pop? F
ATHER
: I'll have the roast chicken, I think, with fries. T
OM
: I'll have the same.

What brings you here?
What is your reason for being here?
T
OM
: Hello, Mary. What brings you here? M
ARY
: I was invited, just like you
.
D
OCTOR
: Well, John, what brings you here? J
OHN
: I've had this cough for nearly a month, and I think it needs looking into.

What can I do you for?
Go to How may I help you?

What can I say?
I have no explanation or excuse. What do you expect me to say? (See also What do you want me to say?)
B
ILL
: Why on earth did you lose that big order? S
ALLY
: What can I say? I'm sorry!
B
OB
: You're going to have to act more aggressively if you want to make sales. You're just too timid. T
OM
: What can I say? I am what I am.

What can I tell you? 1
.
What kind of information do you want?
B
ILL
: I have a question. B
OB
: What can I tell you? B
ILL
: When do we arrive at Chicago?
M
ARY
: I would like to ask a question about the quiz tomorrow. B
ILL
: What can I tell you? M
ARY
: The answers, if you know them
.
2
.
I haven't any idea of what to say. (Compare to
What can I say?
)
J
OHN
: Why on earth did you do a dumb thing like that? B
ILL
: What can I tell you? I just did it, that's all
.
M
ARY
: I'm so disappointed with you, Fred. F
RED
: What can I tell you? I am too.