Conversational American English Expressions
BASIC SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS
BASIC SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS
Complex Matters
65 Expressing support for someone
I’ll stand by you.
I’m standing behind you.
I am 100 percent behind you.
I’m with you.
I’m on your side.
I’ve got your back. (informal) You’ve got my support.
You’ve got my backing.
You’ve got my vote.
You can count on me.
You can lean on me.
You can trust me.
You can put your trust in me.
You can put your faith in me.
66 Offering help to someone
If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.
Let me know if there’s anything I can do.
I’m here if you need me.
I’m here for you.
If you need me, call.
I’ll always be there for you.
I’ll go to bat for you.
to go to bat for you = to support you
I’ll take the rap. (slang) the rap = the blame
67 Expressing trust in someone
I have faith in you.
I have the utmost faith in you.
I have complete faith in you.
I trust you completely.
I trust you implicitly.
I have faith in you.
I have confidence in you.
68 Expressing encouragement
Go on; you can do it!
Just one more.
Just a little harder.
Hang in there.
Stick with it.
Stay at it.
Go for it.
Give it a try.
Give it a shot.
a shot = a try Give it your best shot.
Give it your best.
Keep at it.
Keep your nose to the grindstone. (idiomatic) = Keep bent over your work. = Keep working hard.
Hang in there. (informal) Hang tough. (slang) Stick it out. (informal)
69 Encouraging someone to try something
Have a go at it.
a go = a try
Take a shot at it. (informal) a shot = a try
Take a stab at it. (informal) a stab = a try
Take a crack at it. (informal) a crack = a try
Have a crack at it.
Take a whack at it. (informal) a whack = a try
Come on. (informal)
It won’t hurt you to try it.
Everybody’s doing it.
Everyone else is doing it.
It’s all the rage.
the rage = the current fad
Try your luck.
See what you can do.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. (cliché) Go on.
Get going.
Get going already.
Get moving.
No pain, no gain. (cliché) Get a move on. (informal) Get cracking. (slang)
Get on the stick. (slang) Get the lead out. (slang) Get off your ass. (mildly vulgar)
70 Encouraging someone to stop stalling and do something
Let’s see some action. (informal) It’s now or never.
Take no prisoners! (informal) Fish or cut bait! (idiomatic) Knock yourself out. (idiomatic) = Try really hard.; Work as hard as you can.
Go for broke. (informal)
= Risk everything.
I expect to see some results soon.
Are you just going to stand there all day?
Are you just going to sit there?
Aren’t you going to do anything?
Are you just going to sit there like a bump on a log? (informal) a bump on a log
= a motionless object
You’re letting the world pass you by.
71 Expressing dissatisfaction with someone’s efforts
That won’t do.
That won’t do it.
That doesn’t cut it. (idiomatic) to cut it = to do what is needed
That doesn’t cut the mustard. (idiomatic) to cut the mustard = to measure up to expectations
That doesn’t make the grade.
to make the grade = to qualify
Is that it?
It’s not up to snuff.
Is that all?
You call that finished?
Once more with feeling. (cliché)
72 Asking someone to wait
Wait.
Wait a moment.
Wait a minute.
Wait a sec(ond).
Wait one moment.
Wait one minute.
Wait one sec(ond).
Wait it out.
Wait your turn.
Just a moment.
Just a minute.
Just a sec(ond).
Just one moment.
Just one minute.
Just one sec(ond).
Hold your horses. (idiomatic) = Wait a bit.
Keep your pants on. (informal) = Wait a bit.
Keep your shirt on. (informal) = Wait a bit.
73 Encouraging someone to be patient and take things slowly
Take things as they come.
Take it as it comes.
Take it one day at a time.
Take things one day at a time.
Take one day at a time. Time will tell. (cliché) = We will know more in time.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. (cliché) = Big projects require a lot of time.
A watched pot never boils. (cliché) = Paying constant attention to something you are waiting for will make the wait seem endless.
Good things come to him who waits. (cliché) One step at a time.
One day at a time.
Good things come to those who wait. (cliché) Patience is a virtue. (cliché) In good time.
All in good time.
Everything in its time.
There’s a time for everything.
It will work out in the end.
Everything will come together.
Everything will fall together.
Everything will fall into place.
In the long run, everything will be OK. (informal) In the long haul, it will all work out.
Everything will work itself out.
I am confident it will all work out.
It ain’t over till it’s over. (informal) It ain’t over till the fat lady sings. (cliché)
= The opera is not over until the overweight opera singer has done her solo. = The event will not conclude until everything that was planned to happen has happened.
74 Encouraging someone to be prudent—clichés
Don’t jump the gun.
to jump the gun = to start a race before the starting gun is fired = to do something too early
Don’t go off half-cocked.
half-cocked = ill-prepared
Don’t go chomping at the bit.
chomp = to bite (as with an eager horse)
Don’t put the cart before the horse.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
= Don’t base your plans on something that hasn’t developed yet.
Don’t cross that bridge till you come to it.
= We will deal with that when the time comes.
We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Don’t get ahead of yourself.
75 Giving advice to someone whose life is too busy
You can’t please everybody. (cliché) You can’t be all things to all people. (cliché) You’ve got your fingers in too many pies. (idiomatic) You’ve got your irons in too many fires. (idiomatic) You’re burning the candle at both ends. (cliché) You’re taking too many things on.
You’re taking on too much.
You’re doing too much.
You’re trying to do too much.
You’re overcommitted.
You’re overdoing it.
You’re carrying the world on your shoulders.
You need to set your priorities.
76 Giving instructions to someone you’ve lent something to
Take care of it.
Take good care of it.
I’m trusting you to take good care of it.
Keep an eye on it.
Guard it with your life.
Don’t let it out of your sight.
I want this back.
I want it back in one piece.
in one piece = unbroken; unharmed
Bring it back in one piece.
77 Introducing a secret
Just between you and me . . .
Just between you, me, and the lamppost . . .
This is between you, me, and the bedpost.
This is between you, me, and the four walls.
I’m telling you this in confidence.
I’m telling you this in strict con?dence.
I’m telling you this in strictest confidenceCan you keep a secret?
Don’t repeat this, but . . .
Don’t let this get around, but . . .
Could you keep a secret?
Confidentially . . .
78 Instructions about keBetter keep quiet about it.
Better keep still about it.
Keep it to yourself.
Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone.
Don’t breathe a word of it.
Don’t let it out of this room.
it = the secret
Don’t let this go any further.
Don’t tell a soul.
a soul = a person
Mum’s the word.
mum = a word referring to a closed mouth
eping a secret
It’s on the QT. (slang)
QT = quiet
Play dumb.
This is top secret.
This is for your eyes only.
This is for your ears only.
Don’t say I told you.
Don’t say who told you.
This is off the record.
off the record = not to be reported or quoted
This is not for the record.
This is not to be quoted.
This is not for public knowledge.
This is not public knowledge.
This is not for publication.
79 Promising to keep a secret
I won’t tell a soul.
a soul = a person
My lips are sealed. (cliché) It won’t leave this room.
Wild horses couldn’t drag it out of me. (cliché) I’ll take it to my grave.
= I’ll die without telling the secret to anyone.
65 Expressing support for someone
I’ll stand by you.
I’m standing behind you.
I am 100 percent behind you.
I’m with you.
I’m on your side.
I’ve got your back. (informal) You’ve got my support.
You’ve got my backing.
You’ve got my vote.
You can count on me.
You can lean on me.
You can trust me.
You can put your trust in me.
You can put your faith in me.
66 Offering help to someone
If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.
Let me know if there’s anything I can do.
I’m here if you need me.
I’m here for you.
If you need me, call.
I’ll always be there for you.
I’ll go to bat for you.
to go to bat for you = to support you
I’ll take the rap. (slang) the rap = the blame
67 Expressing trust in someone
I have faith in you.
I have the utmost faith in you.
I have complete faith in you.
I trust you completely.
I trust you implicitly.
I have faith in you.
I have confidence in you.
68 Expressing encouragement
Go on; you can do it!
Just one more.
Just a little harder.
Hang in there.
Stick with it.
Stay at it.
Go for it.
Give it a try.
Give it a shot.
a shot = a try Give it your best shot.
Give it your best.
Keep at it.
Keep your nose to the grindstone. (idiomatic) = Keep bent over your work. = Keep working hard.
Hang in there. (informal) Hang tough. (slang) Stick it out. (informal)
69 Encouraging someone to try something
Have a go at it.
a go = a try
Take a shot at it. (informal) a shot = a try
Take a stab at it. (informal) a stab = a try
Take a crack at it. (informal) a crack = a try
Have a crack at it.
Take a whack at it. (informal) a whack = a try
Come on. (informal)
It won’t hurt you to try it.
Everybody’s doing it.
Everyone else is doing it.
It’s all the rage.
the rage = the current fad
Try your luck.
See what you can do.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. (cliché) Go on.
Get going.
Get going already.
Get moving.
No pain, no gain. (cliché) Get a move on. (informal) Get cracking. (slang)
Get on the stick. (slang) Get the lead out. (slang) Get off your ass. (mildly vulgar)
70 Encouraging someone to stop stalling and do something
Let’s see some action. (informal) It’s now or never.
Take no prisoners! (informal) Fish or cut bait! (idiomatic) Knock yourself out. (idiomatic) = Try really hard.; Work as hard as you can.
Go for broke. (informal)
= Risk everything.
I expect to see some results soon.
Are you just going to stand there all day?
Are you just going to sit there?
Aren’t you going to do anything?
Are you just going to sit there like a bump on a log? (informal) a bump on a log
= a motionless object
You’re letting the world pass you by.
71 Expressing dissatisfaction with someone’s efforts
That won’t do.
That won’t do it.
That doesn’t cut it. (idiomatic) to cut it = to do what is needed
That doesn’t cut the mustard. (idiomatic) to cut the mustard = to measure up to expectations
That doesn’t make the grade.
to make the grade = to qualify
Is that it?
It’s not up to snuff.
Is that all?
You call that finished?
Once more with feeling. (cliché)
72 Asking someone to wait
Wait.
Wait a moment.
Wait a minute.
Wait a sec(ond).
Wait one moment.
Wait one minute.
Wait one sec(ond).
Wait it out.
Wait your turn.
Just a moment.
Just a minute.
Just a sec(ond).
Just one moment.
Just one minute.
Just one sec(ond).
Hold your horses. (idiomatic) = Wait a bit.
Keep your pants on. (informal) = Wait a bit.
Keep your shirt on. (informal) = Wait a bit.
73 Encouraging someone to be patient and take things slowly
Take things as they come.
Take it as it comes.
Take it one day at a time.
Take things one day at a time.
Take one day at a time. Time will tell. (cliché) = We will know more in time.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. (cliché) = Big projects require a lot of time.
A watched pot never boils. (cliché) = Paying constant attention to something you are waiting for will make the wait seem endless.
Good things come to him who waits. (cliché) One step at a time.
One day at a time.
Good things come to those who wait. (cliché) Patience is a virtue. (cliché) In good time.
All in good time.
Everything in its time.
There’s a time for everything.
It will work out in the end.
Everything will come together.
Everything will fall together.
Everything will fall into place.
In the long run, everything will be OK. (informal) In the long haul, it will all work out.
Everything will work itself out.
I am confident it will all work out.
It ain’t over till it’s over. (informal) It ain’t over till the fat lady sings. (cliché)
= The opera is not over until the overweight opera singer has done her solo. = The event will not conclude until everything that was planned to happen has happened.
74 Encouraging someone to be prudent—clichés
Don’t jump the gun.
to jump the gun = to start a race before the starting gun is fired = to do something too early
Don’t go off half-cocked.
half-cocked = ill-prepared
Don’t go chomping at the bit.
chomp = to bite (as with an eager horse)
Don’t put the cart before the horse.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
= Don’t base your plans on something that hasn’t developed yet.
Don’t cross that bridge till you come to it.
= We will deal with that when the time comes.
We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Don’t get ahead of yourself.
75 Giving advice to someone whose life is too busy
You can’t please everybody. (cliché) You can’t be all things to all people. (cliché) You’ve got your fingers in too many pies. (idiomatic) You’ve got your irons in too many fires. (idiomatic) You’re burning the candle at both ends. (cliché) You’re taking too many things on.
You’re taking on too much.
You’re doing too much.
You’re trying to do too much.
You’re overcommitted.
You’re overdoing it.
You’re carrying the world on your shoulders.
You need to set your priorities.
76 Giving instructions to someone you’ve lent something to
Take care of it.
Take good care of it.
I’m trusting you to take good care of it.
Keep an eye on it.
Guard it with your life.
Don’t let it out of your sight.
I want this back.
I want it back in one piece.
in one piece = unbroken; unharmed
Bring it back in one piece.
77 Introducing a secret
Just between you and me . . .
Just between you, me, and the lamppost . . .
This is between you, me, and the bedpost.
This is between you, me, and the four walls.
I’m telling you this in confidence.
I’m telling you this in strict con?dence.
I’m telling you this in strictest confidenceCan you keep a secret?
Don’t repeat this, but . . .
Don’t let this get around, but . . .
Could you keep a secret?
Confidentially . . .
78 Instructions about keBetter keep quiet about it.
Better keep still about it.
Keep it to yourself.
Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone.
Don’t breathe a word of it.
Don’t let it out of this room.
it = the secret
Don’t let this go any further.
Don’t tell a soul.
a soul = a person
Mum’s the word.
mum = a word referring to a closed mouth
eping a secret
It’s on the QT. (slang)
QT = quiet
Play dumb.
This is top secret.
This is for your eyes only.
This is for your ears only.
Don’t say I told you.
Don’t say who told you.
This is off the record.
off the record = not to be reported or quoted
This is not for the record.
This is not to be quoted.
This is not for public knowledge.
This is not public knowledge.
This is not for publication.
79 Promising to keep a secret
I won’t tell a soul.
a soul = a person
My lips are sealed. (cliché) It won’t leave this room.
Wild horses couldn’t drag it out of me. (cliché) I’ll take it to my grave.
= I’ll die without telling the secret to anyone.