Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (222 page)

What are you drinking? 1
.
a phrase inquiring what someone is already drinking so that the person who asks the question can offer another drink of the same thing.
B
ILL
: Hi, Tom. Nice to see you. What are you drinking? T
OM
: Scotch and water. B
ILL
: Waiter, another scotch and water and a martini. T
OM
: Thanks, Bill
.
W
AITER
: What are you drinking, madam? S
UE
: It's just soda. No more, thanks. W
AITER
: Very good
.
2
.
a phrase inquiring what is being drunk at a particular gathering so that the person asking can request the same drink. (A way of finding out what drinks are available.)
M
ARY
: Do you want a drink? S
UE
: Yes, thanks. Say, that looks good. What are you drinking? M
ARY
: It's just ginger ale
.
B
ILL
: Can I get you something to drink? J
ANE
: What are you drinking? B
ILL
: I'm having gin and tonic. J
ANE
: I'll have that too, thanks.

What are you having?
What food or drink are you planning to order? (Either part of a conversation or a request made by food service personnel. In a restaurant, sometimes the waiter or waitress will signal to a guest to order first by saying this. Sometimes asked of the person paying for the food or drink to determine the appropriate price range.)
W
AITER
: Would you care to order now? T
OM
: What are you having, Mary? M
ARY
: You order. I haven't made up my mind
.
W
AITER
: May I help you? T
OM
: What are you having
,
Pop? F
ATHER
: I'll have the roast chicken, I think, with fries. T
OM
: I'll have the same.

What brings you here?
What is your reason for being here?
T
OM
: Hello, Mary. What brings you here? M
ARY
: I was invited, just like you
.
D
OCTOR
: Well, John, what brings you here? J
OHN
: I've had this cough for nearly a month, and I think it needs looking into.

What can I do you for?
Go to How may I help you?

What can I say?
I have no explanation or excuse. What do you expect me to say? (See also What do you want me to say?)
B
ILL
: Why on earth did you lose that big order? S
ALLY
: What can I say? I'm sorry!
B
OB
: You're going to have to act more aggressively if you want to make sales. You're just too timid. T
OM
: What can I say? I am what I am.

What can I tell you? 1
.
What kind of information do you want?
B
ILL
: I have a question. B
OB
: What can I tell you? B
ILL
: When do we arrive at Chicago?
M
ARY
: I would like to ask a question about the quiz tomorrow. B
ILL
: What can I tell you? M
ARY
: The answers, if you know them
.
2
.
I haven't any idea of what to say. (Compare to
What can I say?
)
J
OHN
: Why on earth did you do a dumb thing like that? B
ILL
: What can I tell you? I just did it, that's all
.
M
ARY
: I'm so disappointed with you, Fred. F
RED
: What can I tell you? I am too.

Other books

Watcher in the Shadows by Geoffrey Household
McNally's Dare by Lawrence Sanders, Vincent Lardo
The Second Duchess by Loupas, Elizabeth
Linda Goodman's Sun Signs by Linda Goodman
Gith by Else, Chris
Don't... 04 Backlash by Jack L. Pyke
A Murder of Magpies by Flanders, Judith
Kokoda by Peter Fitzsimons