Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (14 page)

Be good
.
a departure response meaning “Good-bye and behave yourself.”
J
ANE
: Well, we're off. Be back in a week. M
ARY
: Okay, have fun. Be good. J
ANE
: Do I have to?
T
OM
: Bye. Be good. B
ILL
: See ya.

Be happy to
(do something). Go to (I'd be) happy to (do something).

Be my guest
.
Help yourself.; After you. (A polite way of indicating that one should go first, help oneself, or take the last bit of something.)
M
ARY
: I would just love to have some more cake, but there is only one piece left. S
ALLY
: Be my guest. M
ARY
: Wow! Thanks!
J
ANE
: Here's the door. Who should go in first? B
ILL
: Be my guest. I'll wait out here. J
ANE
: Why don't you go first?

Be quiet
!
Stop talking or making noise. (Made polite with
please.
)
B
ILL
(entering the room): Hey, Tom! T
OM
: Please be quiet! I'm on
the phone.
T
OM
: Hey, Bill! B
ILL
: Be quiet! You're too noisy. T
OM
: Sorry.

Be right there
.
Go to (I'll) be right there.

Be right with you
.
Go to (I'll) be right with you.

Be seeing you
.
Go to (I'll) be seeing you.

Be thankful for small blessings
.
Be grateful for any small benefits or advantages one has, especially in a generally difficult situation.
We have very little money, but we must be thankful for small blessings. At least we have enough food
.
Bob was badly injured in the accident, but at least he's still alive. Let's be thankful for small blessings.

Be that as it may
even though that may be true.
S
UE
: I'm sorry that I am late for the test. I overslept. R
ACHEL
: Be that as it may, you have missed the test and will have to petition for a makeup examination
.
H
ENRY
: I lost my job, so I couldn't make the car payment on time. R
ACHEL
: Be that as it may, the payment is overdue, and we'll have to take the car back.

be the case
to be true, describing an actual situation.
I think Bill is a vegetarian, and if that is the case, we should not serve him meat
.
Susie believes trees can talk, but that is not the case.