Read Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts Online
Authors: Richard Spears
anything
(Will there be) anything else?
anytime
Anytime you are ready.
anytime
Come back anytime.
anywhere
Put it anywhere.
approach
Take a shotgun approach to the problem.
argue
(I) can't argue with that.
aside
Step aside.
ask
Don't ask.
ask
I couldn't ask you to do that.
ask
If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask.
ask
If you don't see what you want, please ask (for it).
ask
(I'm) sorry you asked (that).
away
Fire away!
away
Go away!
away
right away
away
You'll never get away with it.
awfully
Thanks awfully.
back
Come back when you can stay longer.
back
Get off my back!
back
I'll get back to you (on that).
back
keep something on the back burner
back
Let me get back to you (on that).
back
push back (against someone or something)
bad
My bad.
bad
Not bad.
bad
Too bad.
balance
on balance
ball
Have a ball!
ball
That's the way the ball bounces.
bank
You can take it to the bank.
bar
bar none
bargain
live up to one's end of the bargain
barn
raised in a barn
bastard
Don't let the bastards wear you down.
batter
Batter up!
bear
Bear up!
beat
Beat it!
beat
Beats me.
beat
Can't beat that.
beat
Got me beat.
beat
(It) beats me.
beat
You got me beat!
beauty
Age before beauty.
beauty
Got to go home and get my beauty sleep.
beauty
(I've) got to go home and get my beauty sleep.
beg
Beg pardon.
believe
believe it or not
believe
Believe you me!
believe
Do you expect me to believe that?
believe
Don't believe I've had the pleasure.
believe
Don't believe so.
believe
I believe so.
believe
I believe we've met.
believe
I can't believe (that)!
believe
I don't believe it!
believe
(I) don't believe I've had the pleasure.
believe
(I) don't believe so.
believe
I don't believe this!
believe
Would you believe!
believe
You can't expect me to believe that.
believe
You don't expect me to believe that.
believe
You('d) better believe it!
bell
Hell's bells (and buckets of blood)!
bell
(I) can't unring the bell.
bell
ring a bell (with someone)
best
at best
best
(The) best of luck (to you).
best
Everything will work out for the best.
best
Things will work out for the best.
best
to the best of my knowledge
bet
I('ll) bet
bet
You bet.
bet
You betcha.
betcha
You betcha.
better
Better be going.
better
Better be off.
better
Better get moving.
better
Better get on my horse.
better
Better hit the road.
better
Better keep quiet about it.
better
Better keep still about it.
better
Better late than never.
better
better left unsaid
better
Better luck next time.
better
Better mind your Ps and Qs.
better
Better safe than sorry.
better
Better than nothing.
better
Better things to do.
better
Could be better.
better
Couldn't be better.
better
do someone one better
better
go someone one better
better
Got better things to do.
better
(I) could be better.
better
(I) couldn't be better.
better
I have better things to do.
better
(I'd) better be going.
better
(I'd) better be off.
better
(I'd) better get moving.
better
(I'd) better get on my horse.
better
(I'd) better hit the road.
better
(It) couldn't be better.
better
(It's) better than nothing.
better
(I've) (got) better things to do.
better
(I've) never been better.
better
(I've) never felt better.
better
(I've) seen better.
better
Might be better.
better
Never been better.
better
Never felt better.
better
Seen better.
better
So much the better.
better
(Someone had) better keep quiet about it.
better
(Someone had) better keep still about it.
better
The sooner the better.
better
(Things) could be better.
better
(Things) might be better.
better
You('d) better believe it!
better
(You'd) better get moving.
better
(You'd) better mind your Ps and Qs.
beware
Let the buyer beware.
big
No big deal!
bit
bit by bit
bit
quite a bit
bite
I'll bite.
black
in black and white
blank
Fill in the blanks.
blessing
Be thankful for small blessings.
blessing
With my blessing(s).
blood
Hell's bells (and buckets of blood)!
board
Are you on board?