Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (5 page)

All right already
!
AND
All righty already
!
an impatient way of indicating agreement or acquiescence. (The second version is more comical than rude. Dated but still used.)
A
LICE
: All right already! Stop pushing me! M
ARY
: I didn't do anything!
B
ILL
: Come on! Get over here! B
OB
: All righty already! Don't rush me!

All systems are go
.
an indication that everything is ready or that things are going along as planned. (Borrowed from the jargon used during America's early space exploration.)
B
ILL
: Can we leave now? Is the car gassed up and ready? T
OM
: All systems are go. Let's get going.
S
ALLY
: Are you all rested up for the track meet? M
ARY
: Yes. All systems are go.

All the best to
someone. Go to Give my best to someone.

all the more reason for
doing something
AND
all the more reason to
do something
with even better reason or cause for doing something. (Can be included in a number of grammatical constructions.)
B
ILL
: I don't do well in calculus because I don't like the stuff. F
ATHER
: All the more reason for working harder at it.
B
OB
: I'm tired of painting this fence. It's so old it's rotting! S
ALLY
: All the more reason to paint it
.

all things considered
Go to all in all.

Allow me
.
AND
Permit me
.
a polite way of announcing that one is going to assist someone, unasked. (Typically said by a man assisting a woman by opening a door, lighting a cigarette, or providing support or aid in moving about. In Allow me, the stress is usually on
me
. In Permit me, the stress is usually on
mit
.)
Tom and Jane approached the door. “Allow me,” said Tom, grabbing the doorknob.
“Permit me,” said Fred, pulling out a gold-plated lighter and lighting Jane's cigarette.

almost lost it
almost having lost one's temper, composure, or control. (Also literal.)
I was so mad, I almost lost it.
When he saw the dent in his fender, he almost lost it.

Aloha. 1
.
Hello. (Hawaiian. Used in casual or familiar conversation or in Hawaii.)
“Aloha. Welcome,” smiled the hostess.
A
LICE
: Hello. Can I come in? S
UE
: Come in. Aloha and welcome
.
2
.
Goodbye. (Hawaiian. Used in casual or familiar conversation or in Hawaii.)
M
ARY
: It's time we were going. Aloha. J
ANE
: Aloha, Mary. Come again.
All the family stood by the little plane, cried and cried, and called, “Aloha, aloha,” long after my little plane took me away to the big island.