Read Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts Online
Authors: Richard Spears
You're welcome
.
The polite response to Thanks or Thank you. (Made emphatic and more gracious with an adjective, such as
quite
or
very
.)
F
ATHER
: Thank you. M
OTHER
: You're welcome
.
B
OB
: We all thank you very much. S
ALLY
: You're quite welcome.
Yourself?
Go to And you?
You've got another think coming
.
You will have to rethink your position. (The second part of an expression something like, “If you think that, then you've got another think coming.” Also with
thing
rather than
think
.)
R
ACHEL
: If you think I'm going to stand here and listen to your complaining all day, you've got another think coming! B
ILL
: Frankly, I don't care what you do
.
A
NDREW
: If you think you can get away with it, you've got another think coming! B
OB
: Get away with what? I didn't do anything!
(You've) got me stumped
.
I can't possibly figure out the answer to your question.
B
ILL
: How long is the Amazon River? J
ANE
: You've got me stumped
.
B
OB
: Do you know of a book that would interest a retired sea captain? S
ALLY
: You've got me stumped.
You've got to be kidding
!
This cannot be the truth. Surely you are kidding me!
B
OB
: Sally is getting married. Did you hear? M
ARY
: You've got to be kidding!
B
ILL
: I think I swallowed my gold tooth! M
OTHER
: You've got to be kidding!
You've got to be out of your mind
!
Go to You're out of your mind!
Yup
.
Yes. (Colloquial and folksy. Considered rude or disrespectful in some situations, such as a child speaking to an adult.)
B
ILL
: Want some more? T
OM
: Yup
.
M
ARY
: Tired? J
ANE
: Yup.
Zip it up
!
Go to Zip (up) your lip!
Zip (up) your lip
!
AND
Zip it up
!
Be quiet!; Close your mouth and be quiet! (Slang and slightly rude.)
“I've heard enough. Zip your lip!” hollered the coach
.
A
NDREW
: All right, you guys. Shut up! Zip it up! B
OB
: Sorry. B
ILL
: Be quiet. A
NDREW
: That's better.