Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts by Richard Spears Read Free Book Online Page B

comedy!
    cut to the chase to get to the important matters.
Let’s stop all this chatter and cut to the chase
.
I like the way you cut to the chase and don’t waste my time.

D
    dance on someone’s grave to celebrate someone’s misfortune.
I don’t know which one of us will get the promotion, but I hope that we can be noble about it. Maybe we can agree that the winner will not dance on the loser’s grave
.
I don’t mind losing the house as much as I will hate to see the bank dancing on my grave when it finally forecloses.
    a day late and a dollar short unprepared; unfortunately inadequate. (A slightly humorous expression of despair at failure.)
It’s the story of my life. A day late and a dollar short
.
Here is old Chuck again. Unprepared and ill equipped. A day late and a dollar short.
    deal someone in 1 . to bring someone into a card game (poker) by dealing that person a hand of cards.
I want to play. Deal me in
.
I SABEL (sitting down at the table): Can you deal me in?
2 . to allow someone to join in.
If it’s not too late to participate in the negotiations, please deal me in
.
Q: Can I still buy some of this stock? A: Sure. Shall I deal you in?
    Dear me ! an expression of mild dismay or regret.
S UE : Dear me, is this all there is? M ARY : There’s more in the kitchen
.
“Oh, dear me!” fretted John, “I’m late again.
”
    Definitely ! AND Certainly ! Yes, of course!
B ILL : Will you be there Saturday? M ARY : Definitely!
S UE : Would you be so kind as to carry this up the stairs? B ILL : Certainly!
    Definitely not ! AND Certainly not ! No, without any doubt at all. (Compare to Absolutely not!)
B ILL : Will you lend me some money? B OB : No way! Definitely not!
B OB : Have you ever stolen anything? F RED : Certainly not!
    Delighted to have you . Go to (I’m) delighted to have you (here).
    Delighted to make your acquaintance . Go to (I’m) delighted to make your acquaintance.
    did you hear? Go to have you heard?
    Did you order all this weather ? Are you responsible for this weather? (A jocular way of starting a conversation. No assumption of causality. The
weather
can be more specific, such as
rain, sun, heat, cold, snow
, etc.)
D ON : How’s it going? Hey, Andy, did you order all this snow? A NDY : Sure, Don, I do snow in the winter and rain in the fall
.
Hello, friend. Nice day, isn’t it? Did you order all this sunshine?
    Dig in ! Please start eating your meal (heartily).
When we were all seated at the table, Grandfather said, “Dig in!” and we all did
.
S UE : Sit down, everybody. B OB : Wow, this stuff looks good! A LICE : It sure does. S UE : Dig in!
    Dig up ! Listen carefully! (Slang.)
J OHN : All right, you guys! Dig up! You’re going to hear this one time and one time only! B ILL : Get quiet, you guys!
B ILL : Dig up! I’m only going to say this once. B OB : What was that? B ILL : I said listen!
    Dinner is served . It is time to eat dinner. Please come to the table. (Formal, as if announced by a butler.)
S UE : Dinner is served. M ARY (aside): Aren’t we fancy tonight?
“Dinner is served,” said Bob, rather formally for a barbecue.
    (Do) have some more . an invitation to take more of something, usually food or drink.
B ILL : Wow, Mrs. Franklin, this scampi is great! S ALLY : Thank you, Bill. Do have some more
.
J ANE : What a lovely, light cake. M ARY : Oh, have some more. Otherwise the boys will just wolf it down.
    Do I have to paint (you) a picture? Go to Do I have to spell it out (for you)?
    Do I have to spell it out (for you)? AND Do I have to paint (you) a picture? What do I have to do to make this clear enough for you to understand? (Shows impatience.)
M ARY : I don’t think I understand what you’re trying to tell me, Fred. F RED : Do I have to spell it out for you? M ARY : I guess so. F RED : We’re through, Mary
.
S ALLY : Would you please go over the part about the square root again? M ARY :