Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (2 page)

Able to sit up and take (a little) nourishment
.
Go to (I'm) able to sit up and take (a little) nourishment.

About that time
.
Go to (It's) about that time.

Absolutely
!
a strong affirmation.
M
OTHER
: Do you want another piece of cake? C
HILD
: Absolutely!
Q: Are you ready to go? A: Absolutely!

Absolutely not
!
a strong denial or refusal. (Compare to Definitely not!)
B
OB
: Will you please slip this bottle into your pocket? B
ILL
: Absolutely not!
B
OB
: Can I please have the car again tonight? F
ATHER
: Absolutely not! You can't have the car every night!

Act your age
!
Behave more maturely! (A rebuke for someone who is acting childish. Often said to a child who is acting like an even younger child.)
Johnny was squirming around and pinching his sister. His mother finally said, “Johnny, act your age!
”
C
HILD
: Aw, come on! Let me see your book! M
ARY
: Be quiet and act your age. Don't be such a baby.

Adios
.
Good-bye. (From Spanish. Used in casual or familiar conversation.)
B
OB
: See you later, man. B
ILL
: Yeah, man. Adios.
B
OB
: Adios, my friend. M
ARY
: See you, Bob.

Afraid not
.
Go to (I'm) afraid not.

Afraid so
.
Go to (I'm) afraid so.

after all
in addition; considering the fact that; thinking in retrospect.
You should really be nicer to him. After all, he is your brother.
A: But he acts very rude sometimes, and he's so boring. B: But really, Sally, after all!

After while(, crocodile)
.
Good-bye till later.; See you later. (
Crocodile
is used only for the sake of the rhyme. This is the response to See you later, alligator.)
M
ARY
: See you later. B
ILL
: After while, crocodile.
J
ANE
: After while. M
ARY
: Toodle-oo.