Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (260 page)

body
Over my dead body!

book
Not in my book.

book
throw the book at someone

boot
You bet your boots!

born
Were you born in a barn?

both
You and me both.

bother
Doesn't bother me any.

bother
Doesn't bother me at all.

bother
Don't bother.

bother
Don't bother me!

bother
Don't bother me none.

bother
(It) doesn't bother me any.

bother
(It) doesn't bother me at all.

bother
(It) don't bother me none.

bother
(It) won't bother me any.

bother
(It) won't bother me at all.

bother
Won't bother me any.

bottom
Bottoms up.

bounce
That's the way the ball bounces.

bowel
Don't get your bowels in an uproar!

boy
Boy howdy!

boy
Boy, oh boy!

boy
Boys will be boys.

boy
How's my boy?

boy
How's the boy?

boy
Oh, boy.

break
Break a leg!

break
break a sweat

break
Break it up!

break
Give me a break!

break
sound like a broken record

breath
Don't hold your breath.

breath
Don't waste your breath.

breath
I don't have time to catch my breath.

breathe
Don't breathe a word of this to anyone.

breathe
I don't have time to breathe.

breathe
(I) won't breathe a word (of it).

breathe
Won't breathe a word (of it).

bring
That brings me to the (main) point.

bring
What brings you here?

bring
which brings me to the (main) point

bro
Later, bro.

broken
sound like a broken record

bucket
For crying in a bucket!

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

bully
Bully for you!

burn
That (really) burns me (up)!

burner
keep something on the back burner

bury
know where all the bodies are buried

business
Get your nose out of my business.

business
How's business?

business
I'll thank you to mind your own business.

business
(I'm just) minding my own business.

business
(It's) none of your business!

business
(Just) taking care of business.

business
Keep your nose out of my business.

business
Let's get down to business.

business
Mind your own business.

business
Minding my own business.

business
None of your business!

business
Taking care of business.

busy
Been keeping busy.

busy
(Have you) been keeping busy?

busy
I'm busy.

busy
(I've) been keeping busy.

busy
Keeping busy.

busy
You been keeping busy?

busybody
I don't want to sound like a busybody, but

butt
Butt out!

buy
Buy you a drink?

buy
(Could I) buy you a drink?

buyer
Let the buyer beware.

bye
Good-bye and good riddance.

bye
Good-bye for now.

bye
(Good-bye) until next time.

bye
(Good-bye) until then.

bye
See ya, bye-bye.

cake
That takes the cake!

call
Call again.

call
Call me name.

call
Could I call you?

call
Could I have someone call you?

call
Could I tell someone who's calling?

call
Don't call us, we'll call you.

call
Give me a call.

call
Good call!

call
I'll call back later.

call
issue a call for something

call
Let's call it a day.

call
(Most) folks (around here) call me name.

call
Nice call!

call
Thank you for calling.

call
Time to call it a day.

call
Time to call it a night.

call
What number are you calling?

call
Who's calling(, please)?

call
You called?

call
(You can) call me name.

came
This is where I came in.

candidly
speaking (quite) candidly

cap
put a cap on something

card
Cash or credit (card)?

care
As if (I cared)!

care
Care for another?

care
Care if I join you?

care
Care to dance?

care
Care to (do something)?

care
Care to join us?

care
Could(n't) care less.

care
(Do you) care if I join you?

care
(I) could(n't) care less.

care
I don't care.

care
(Just) taking care of business.

care
Like I care!

care
See if I care!

care
Take care (of yourself).

care
Taking care of business.

care
Who cares?

care
(Would you) care for another (one)?

care
(Would you) care to dance?

care
(Would you) care to (do something)?

care
(Would you) care to join us?

careful
Be careful.

case
be the case

case
in any case

cash
Cash or credit (card)?

cat
Look (at) what the cat dragged in!

cat
Looks like something the cat dragged in.

cat
(Someone) looks like something the cat dragged in.

cat
There's more than one way to skin a cat.

catch
Catch me later.

catch
Catch me some other time.

catch
Catch you later.

catch
Good catch!

catch
I didn't catch the name.

catch
I didn't catch your name.

catch
I didn't (quite) catch that (last) remark.

catch
I don't have time to catch my breath.

catch
(I'll) catch you later.

catch
(I'll) try to catch you later.

catch
(I'll) try to catch you some other time.

catch
Try to catch you later.

catch
Try to catch you some other time.

catch
What's the catch?

cause
(That causes) no problem.

cent
For two cents I would do something!

cent
put in one's two cents(' worth)

ceremony
Don't stand on ceremony.

certainly
Certainly not!

chair
have a chair at the table

chair
Pull up a chair.

chance
by chance

chance
fat chance

chance
Give me a chance!

chance
No chance.

chance
Not a chance!

chance
(There is) no chance.

chance
when you get a chance

change
a change of scenery

change
change something out

change
Changed my mind.

change
Changed your mind?

change
(Have you) changed your mind?

change
(I) changed my mind.

change
(It's) time for a change.

change
Let's change something up (a little).

change
Time for a change.

change
Times are changing.

change
You changed your mind?

channel
channel someone

charm
Charmed(, I'm sure).

chase
cut to the chase

chase
Go chase yourself!

check
Check, please.

check
check something at the door

check
Could I have the check?

cheer
Cheer up!

cheese
Say cheese!

chin
Keep your chin up.

chin
take it on the chin

chip
have a chip in the game

choose
pick and choose

church
You go to your church, and I'll go to mine.

cigar
Close, but no cigar!

circumstance
Not under any circumstances.

circumstance
Under no circumstances.

circumstance
under normal circumstances