Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (65 page)

Goodness
!
Go to (My) goodness (gracious)!

Goodness sake(s)
!
Go to (Goodness) sakes alive!

(Goodness) sakes alive
!
AND
(For) goodness sake(s)!; Sakes alive
!
My goodness! (Folksy. A mild oath or exclamation.)
“Goodness sakes alive!” cried Grandma, “The deer ate my tulips!
”
A: Look at the size of that watermelon! B: Sakes alive! I'm sure I couldn't possibly lift it.

the
gospel truth
[of truth] undeniable.
The witness swore he was telling the gospel truth
.
I told my parents the gospel truth about how the vase broke.

Got better things to do
.
Go to (I've) (got) better things to do.

Got it?
Do you understand (it)?
Q: I've gone over it with you a dozen times. It should be clear by now. Got it? A: Sure
.
B
OB
: Once again, this one, not that one. Got it? T
OM
: Could you go over it one more time?

Got me beat
.
Go to (It) beats me.

Got me stumped
.
Go to (You've) got me stumped.

Got to be shoving off
.
Go to (I) have to shove off.

Got to fly
.
Go to (I've) got to fly.

Got to get moving
.
Go to (I've) got to get moving.

Got to go
.
Go to (I've) got to go.

Got to go home and get my beauty sleep
.
Go to (I've) got to go home and get my beauty sleep.

Got to hit the road
.
Go to (It's) time to hit the road.

Got to run
.
Go to (I've) got to run.

Got to shove off
.
Go to (I) have to shove off.

Got to split
.
Go to (I've) got to split.

Got to take off
.
Go to (I've) got to take off.

Gotcha! 1
.
I understand what you said or what you want.
J
OHN
: I want this done now! Understand? A
LICE
: Gotcha!
B
ILL
: Now, this kind of thing can't continue. We must do anything to prevent it from happening again. Do you understand what I'm saying to you? B
OB
: Gotcha!
2
.
I've caught you at your little game.
Mary was standing by the hall table, going through the mail very slowly. Fred came through and saw her. “Gotcha!” said Fred to an embarrassed Mary
.
B
ILL
: My flight was nearly six hours late. B
OB
: Gotcha! I just heard you tell Mary it was three hours late.

Gotta love it
!
Go to (You) (just) gotta love it!

grab a bite (to eat)
to get something to eat; to get food that can be eaten quickly.
I need a few minutes to grab a bite to eat
.
Bob often tries to grab a bite between meetings.