Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (26 page)

Come right in
.
Come in, please.
“Come right in and make yourself at home!” said the host
.
F
RED
(opening the door): Well, hi, Bill. B
ILL
: Hello, Fred. Good to see you. F
RED
: Come right in. B
ILL
: Thanks.

Coming through(, please)
.
Please let me pass through. (Often said by someone trying to get through a crowd of people, as in a passageway or an elevator. Compare to Out, please.)
T
OM
: Coming through, please. S
UE
: Give him some room. He wants to get by
.
M
ARY
(as the elevator stops): Well, this is my floor. Coming through, please. I've got to get off. J
OHN
: Bye, Mary. It's been good talking to you.

Could be better
.
Go to (Things) could be better.

Could be worse
.
Go to (Things) could be worse.

Could have fooled me
.
Go to (You) could have fooled me.

Could I be excused?
Would you give me permission to leave?; Would you give me permission to leave the table? (Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
B
ILL
: I'm finished, Mom. Could I be excused? M
OTHER
: Yes, of course, when you use good manners like that
.
“Can I be excused?” asked Bill, with a big grin on his face and his broccoli hidden in his napkin.

(Could I) buy you a drink? 1
.
Could I purchase a drink for you? (An offer by one person—usually in a bar—to buy a drink for another. Then the two will drink together. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
When Sally and Mary met at the agreed time in the hotel bar, Sally said to Mary, “Could I buy you a drink?
”
Then this strange man sat down and said, “Buy you a drink?” Well, I could have just died!
2
.
Could I make you a drink? (A slightly humorous way of offering to prepare and serve someone a drink, as in one's home. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
B
ILL
: Come in, Fred. Can I buy you a drink? F
RED
: Sure. What are you having? B
ILL
: I've got wine and beer
.
M
ARY
: Can I buy you a drink? What do you have there now? B
OB
: Oh, sure. It's just gin and tonic. M
ARY
: Great! I'll be right back with it.

Could I call you? 1
.
I am too busy to talk to you now. Do you mind if I telephone you later on? (Usually in a business context. Also
used with
can
in place of
could. May
is too polite here.)
S
ALLY
: I can't talk to you right now. Could I call you? T
OM
: Sure, no problem
.
B
ILL
: I've got to run. Sorry. Can I call you? B
OB
: No, I'm leaving town. I'll try to get in touch next week
.
2
.
Do you mind if I call you and ask for another date sometime?; Do you mind if I call you sometime (in order to further our relationship)? (Usually in a romantic context. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
M
ARY
: I had a marvelous time, Bob. B
OB
: Me, too. Can I call you? M
ARY
: Sure
.
B
OB
: I had a marvelous time, Mary. May I call you? M
ARY
: Maybe in a week or two. I have a very busy week ahead. I'll call you, in fact.