Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (49 page)

Everything's going to be all right
.
AND
Everything will be all right
.
Do not worry—everything will be okay. (A number of other expressions can be substituted for
all right
, such as
okay, just fine, great
, etc.)
“Don't worry, Fred,” said Bill. “Everything will be all right.
”
M
ARY
: I just don't know if I can go on! B
OB
: Now, now. Everything will be just fine.

Excellent
!
Great!; Fine!
B
OB
: What's happening? F
RED
: Hi! I'm getting a new car. B
OB
: Excellent!
B
OB
: All the players are here and ready to go. S
UE
: Excellent! B
OB
: When do we start the game?

Excuse me
.
AND
Excuse, please.; Pardon (me).; 'Scuse (me).; 'Scuse, please
.
('Scuse is colloquial.)
1
.
an expression asking forgiveness for some minor social violation, such as belching or bumping into someone.
J
OHN
: Ouch! B
OB
: Excuse me. I didn't see you there
.
M
ARY
: Oh! Ow! S
UE
: Pardon me. I didn't mean to bump into you
.
T
OM
: Ouch! M
ARY
: Oh, dear! What happened? T
OM
: You stepped on my toe. M
ARY
: Excuse me. I'm sorry
.
2
.
Please let me through.; Please let me by.
T
OM
: Excuse me. I need to get past. B
OB
: Oh, sorry. I didn't know I was in the way
.
M
ARY
: Pardon me. S
UE
: What? M
ARY
: Pardon me. I want to get past you.

Excuse me?
AND
Pardon (me)?; 'Scuse me?
What do you mean by that last remark?; I beg your pardon? (Shows amazement at someone's rudeness.)
M
ARY
: Your policies seem quite inflexible to me. B
ILL
: Excuse me?
B
OB
: These silly people are getting on my nerves. M
ARY
: Pardon me?

Excuse, please
.
Go to Excuse me.

Fair to middling
.
a response to a greeting inquiry into the state of one's health. (Colloquial and folksy.)
J
OHN
: How are you doing? B
OB
: Oh, fair to middling, I guess. And you? J
OHN
: Things could be worse
.
B
ILL
: How are you feeling? J
ANE
: Oh, fair to middling, thanks. B
ILL
: Still a little under the weather, huh? J
ANE
: Just a little.