Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (224 page)

What do you think about that?
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What do you think of that?
AND
What do you think about that?
Isn't that remarkable?; What is your opinion of that?
B
OB
: I'm leaving tomorrow and taking all these books with me. What do you think of that? M
ARY
: Not much
.
S
UE
: I'm going to start taking cooking lessons. What do you think about that? B
ILL
: I'm overjoyed! J
OHN
: Thank heavens! M
ARY
: Fortune has smiled on us, indeed!

What do you think of this weather?
a question used to open a conversation with someone, often someone one has just met.
S
UE
: Glad to meet you, Mary. M
ARY
: What do you think about this weather? S
UE
: I've seen better
.
B
ILL
: What do you think about this weather? J
ANE
: Lovely weather for ducks.

What do you think you are doing here?
Why are you in this place? (Stern and threatening.)
J
OHN
: Mary! M
ARY
: John! J
OHN
: What do you think you're doing here?
“What do you think you're doing here?” said Fred to a frightened rabbit trapped in the garage.

What do you want me to say?
I have no response.; I have no answer. Do you have one for me to say? (Almost the same as What can I say?; What can I tell you?)
T
OM
: You've really made a mess of all of this! B
ILL
: Sorry. What do you want me to say?
B
OB
: All of these problems should have been settled some time ago. Why are they still plaguing us? T
OM
: What do you want me to say?

What does that prove?
So what?; That does not mean anything. (A defensive expression. The heaviest stress is on
that
. Often with
so
, as in the examples.)
T
OM
: It seems that you were in the apartment the same night that it was robbed. B
OB
: So, what does that prove? T
OM
: Nothing, really. It's just something we need to keep in mind
.
R
ACHEL
: You're late again on your car payment. J
ANE
: What does that prove? R
ACHEL
: Simply that you can't afford the car, and we are going to repossess it.

What else can I do?
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What else can I do for you?
In what other way can I serve you? (Said by shopkeepers, clerks, and service personnel.)
B
ILL
: What else can I do for you? B
OB
: Please check the oil
.
“Here's your prescription. What else can I do for you?” said the pharmacist.