Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (234 page)

What's yours?
Go to What'll it be?

when all is said and done
AND
when everything is said and done
when it is all over (See also at the end of the day.)
When all is said and done, we probably would have been better off paying
cash rather than taking out another loan.
A: Looking back on things, I am pretty sure we made the right decision. B: But when everything is said and done, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

When do we eat?
What time is the next meal served? (Familiar. The speaker is hungry.)
B
ILL
: This is a lovely view, and your apartment is great. When do we eat? M
ARY
: We've already eaten. Weren't you just leaving? B
ILL
: I guess I was
.
A
NDREW
: Wow! Something really smells good! When do we eat? R
ACHEL
: Oh, mind your manners.

when everything is said and done
Go to when all is said and done.

When I'm good and ready
.
Not until I want to and no sooner. (A bit contentious.)
M
ARY
: When are you going to rake the leaves? F
ATHER
: When I'm good and ready
.
B
OB
: When are you going to help me move this piano? F
RED
: When I'm good and ready and not a minute before.

When pigs can fly
.
Never!; Only when the impossible becomes possible! (Sarcastic.)
Q: When are you going to get this television mounted on the wall? A: When pigs can fly! It's just too heavy
.
Sure I can do the long list of things you just gave me. When pigs can fly! Do you really expect me to spend every waking hour working for peanuts?

when you get a chance
Go to when you get a minute.

when you get a minute
AND
when you get a chance
a phrase introducing or concluding a request.
B
ILL
: Tom? T
OM
: Yes? B
ILL
: When you get a minute, I'd like to have a word with you
.
“Please drop over for a chat when you get a chance,” said Fred to Bill.

When you('ve) gotta go, you gotta go. 1
.
When one feels the urge to go to the toilet, it is expected that one should go take care of it.
A: Excuse me. I have to leave the room. B: When you gotta go, you gotta go
.
H
ELEN
: Sorry, she's away from her desk. D
AN
: Yup, I know. When you gotta go, you gotta go
.
2
.
When it is one's time to die, one simply dies. (Only jocular. See also We all gotta go sometime.)
Yes, Fred was young. But when you gotta go, you gotta go
.
I don't fret about death. When you've gotta go, you gotta go.