Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (123 page)

(It) suits me (fine)
.
It is fine with me.
J
OHN
: Is this one okay? M
ARY
: Suits me
.
J
OHN
: I'd like to sit up front where I can hear better. M
ARY
: Suits me fine.

It takes all kinds (of people) (to make a world)
.
All kinds of people, even strange ones, make up the world's population. (A mild way of remarking about someone who has done something strange.)
A: I was shocked to hear that Fred had run away with his secretary and then wrote a series of bad checks. Who would have thought? B: It takes all kinds!
Every time they tell me I am strange, I remind them that it takes all kinds to make a world.

(It) won't bother me any
.
AND
(It) won't bother me at all
.
It will not trouble me at all.; I have no objection if you wish to do that. (Not very polite or cordial.)
J
OHN
: Will you mind if I sit here? J
ANE
: Won't bother me any
.
S
ALLY
(lighting a cigarette): Do you mind if I smoke? B
ILL
: It won't bother me at all.

(It) won't bother me at all
.
Go to (It) won't bother me any.

(It) works for me
.
It is fine with me. (Slang. With stress on
works
and
me
. The answer to Does it work for you?)
B
OB
: Is it okay if I sign us up for the party? S
ALLY
: It works for me
.
T
OM
: Is Friday all right for the party? B
ILL
: Works for me. B
OB
: It works for me, too.

It'll all come out in the wash
.
It will all be made clear at a future reckoning.; Bad things about someone will be revealed eventually.; It will all work out for the best. (This does not mean that bad actions will be neutralized in the way that stains are removed by washing.
Come out
= be revealed.)
A: Bob thinks he can keep getting away with padding his expense account. You'd think they'd figure out what's going on. B: Don't worry. It'll all come out in the wash
.
Everyone is pretty uncertain about the future now and wondering if we will have jobs next week. I say, just relax. It'll all come out in the wash.

It'll never fly
!
AND
It'll never work
!
It simply will not work as described. (A cliché.)
A
NDY
: I built this contraption to help me gather up lawn clippings. What do you think of it? F
ATHER
: It'll never fly!
It seems like a great idea when you first think about it, but in the long run, it'll never work.