Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (259 page)

anything
(Will there be) anything else?

anytime
Anytime you are ready.

anytime
Come back anytime.

anywhere
Put it anywhere.

approach
Take a shotgun approach to the problem.

argue
Can't argue with that.

argue
(I) can't argue with that.

army
You and what army?

aside
Step aside.

ask
(Are you) sorry you asked?

ask
Couldn't ask for more.

ask
Doesn't hurt to ask.

ask
Don't ask.

ask
Don't ask me.

ask
(I) couldn't ask for more.

ask
I couldn't ask you to do that.

ask
if I might ask

ask
If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask.

ask
If you don't see what you want, please ask (for it).

ask
(I'm) sorry you asked (that).

ask
(It) doesn't hurt to ask.

ask
(It) never hurts to ask.

ask
Never hurts to ask.

ask
Sorry (that) I asked.

ask
Sorry you asked.

ask
You asked for it!

ask
You'll be sorry you asked.

away
Don't stay away so long.

away
Fire away!

away
Go away!

away
right away

away
You'll never get away with it.

awfully
Thanks awfully.

back
Come back and see us.

back
Come back anytime.

back
Come back when you can stay longer.

back
Get back to me (on this).

back
Get off my back!

back
I'll call back later.

back
I'll get back to you (on that).

back
keep something on the back burner

back
Let me get back to you (on that).

back
push back (against someone or something)

back
Right back at you.

back
walk something back

bad
(It's) not half bad.

bad
My bad.

bad
Not bad.

bad
Not half bad.

bad
(That's) too bad.

bad
Too bad.

balance
on balance

ball
Have a ball!

ball
That's the way the ball bounces.

bank
You can bank on it.

bank
You can take it to the bank.

bar
bar none

bargain
live up to one's end of the bargain

barn
raised in a barn

barn
Were you born in a barn?

bastard
Don't let the bastards wear you down.

batter
Batter up!

bear
Bear up!

bear
I'm as hungry as a bear.

beat
Beat it!

beat
Beats me.

beat
Can't beat that.

beat
Got me beat.

beat
(I) can't beat that.

beat
If that don't beat all!

beat
(It) beats me.

beat
(It's) got me beat.

beat
That beats everything!

beat
(You) can't beat that.

beat
You got me beat!

beauty
Age before beauty.

beauty
Got to go home and get my beauty sleep.

beauty
(I've) got to go home and get my beauty sleep.

beg
Beg pardon.

beg
beg the question

beg
Beg your pardon.

beg
beg your pardon, but

beg
begging your pardon, but

beg
(I) beg your pardon.

beg
(I) beg your pardon, but

beg
I'll have to beg off.

believe
believe it or not

believe
Believe you me!

believe
Do you expect me to believe that?

believe
Don't believe I've had the pleasure.

believe
Don't believe so.

believe
I believe so.

believe
I believe we've met.

believe
I can't believe (that)!

believe
I don't believe it!

believe
(I) don't believe I've had the pleasure.

believe
(I) don't believe so.

believe
I don't believe this!

believe
Would you believe!

believe
You can't expect me to believe that.

believe
You don't expect me to believe that.

believe
You('d) better believe it!

bell
Can't unring the bell.

bell
Hell's bells (and buckets of blood)!

bell
(I) can't unring the bell.

bell
ring a bell (with someone)

best
All the best to someone.

best
at best

best
(The) best of luck (to you).

best
Everything will work out for the best.

best
Give it your best shot.

best
Give my best to someone.

best
Things will work out for the best.

best
to the best of my knowledge

bet
Don't bet on it!

bet
(I) wouldn't bet on it.

bet
I('ll) bet

bet
Wouldn't bet on it.

bet
You bet.

bet
You bet your boots!

bet
You bet your life!

bet
You bet your (sweet) life!

bet
You betcha.

betcha
You betcha.

better
Better be going.

better
Better be off.

better
Better get moving.

better
Better get on my horse.

better
Better hit the road.

better
Better keep quiet about it.

better
Better keep still about it.

better
Better late than never.

better
better left unsaid

better
Better luck next time.

better
Better mind your Ps and Qs.

better
Better safe than sorry.

better
Better than nothing.

better
Better things to do.

better
Could be better.

better
Couldn't be better.

better
do someone one better

better
go someone one better

better
Got better things to do.

better
(I) could be better.

better
(I) couldn't be better.

better
I have better things to do.

better
(I'd) better be going.

better
(I'd) better be off.

better
(I'd) better get moving.

better
(I'd) better get on my horse.

better
(I'd) better hit the road.

better
(It) couldn't be better.

better
(It's) better than nothing.

better
(I've) (got) better things to do.

better
(I've) never been better.

better
(I've) never felt better.

better
(I've) seen better.

better
Might be better.

better
Never been better.

better
Never felt better.

better
Seen better.

better
So much the better.

better
(Someone had) better keep quiet about it.

better
(Someone had) better keep still about it.

better
The sooner the better.

better
(Things) could be better.

better
(Things) might be better.

better
You('d) better believe it!

better
(You'd) better get moving.

better
(You'd) better mind your Ps and Qs.

beware
Let the buyer beware.

big
Like it's such a big deal!

big
No big deal!

big
What's the (big) idea?

bill
Could I have the bill?

bit
bit by bit

bit
quite a bit

bite
Bite your tongue!

bite
grab a bite (to eat)

bite
I'll bite.

black
in black and white

blank
Fill in the blanks.

blessing
Be thankful for small blessings.

blessing
With my blessing(s).

blood
curdle someone's blood

blood
Hell's bells (and buckets of blood)!

blow
It blows my mind!

board
Are you on board?

body
know where all the bodies are buried