Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (70 page)

Have to be moving along
.
Go to (I) have to be moving along.

Have to go now
.
Go to (I) have to go now.

Have to move along
.
Go to (I) have to be moving along.

Have to run along
.
Go to (I) have to run along.

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

(Have you) been keeping busy?
AND
(Have you been) keeping busy?; You been keeping busy?
a vague greeting that inquires about how someone has been occupied. (Also reflexive:
keeping yourself
.)
T
OM
: Been keeping busy? B
ILL
: Yeah. Too busy
.
S
UE
: Hi, Fred. Have you been keeping busy? F
RED
: Not really. Just doing what I have to.

(Have you) been keeping cool?
AND
(Have you been) keeping cool?; You been keeping cool?
an inquiry about how someone is surviving very hot weather. (Also reflexive:
keeping yourself
.)
T
OM
: What do you think of this hot weather? Been keeping cool? S
UE
: No, I like this weather just as it is
.
M
ARY
: Keeping cool? B
ILL
: Yup. Run the air-conditioning all the time.

(Have you) been keeping out of trouble?
AND
(Have you been) keeping out of trouble?; You been keeping out of trouble?
a vague greeting asking one what one has been doing. (Also reflexive:
keeping yourself
.)
B
OB
: Hi, Mary. Have you been keeping out of trouble? M
ARY
: Yeah. And you? B
OB
: Oh, I'm getting by
.
T
OM
: Hey, man! Been keeping out of trouble? B
OB
: Hell, no! What are you up to? T
OM
: Nothing.

(Have you) been okay?
AND
You been okay?
a vague greeting asking if one has been well.
T
OM
: Hey, man. How you doing? B
OB
: I'm okay. You been okay? T
OM
: Sure. See you!
M
ARY
: I heard you were sick. S
ALLY
: Yes, but I'm better. Have you been okay? M
ARY
: Oh, sure. Healthy as an ox.

(Have you) changed your mind?
AND
You changed your mind?
Have you decided to alter your decision?
S
ALLY
: As of last week, they said you are leaving. Changed your mind? B
ILL
: No. I'm leaving
for sure.
T
OM
: Well, have you changed your mind? S
ALLY
: Absolutely not!

have you heard?
AND
did you hear?
a question used to introduce a piece of news or gossip.
S
ALLY
: Hi, Mary. M
ARY
: Hi. Have you heard about Tom and Sue? S
ALLY
: No, what happened? M
ARY
: I'll let one of them tell you. S
ALLY
: Oh, come on! Tell me!
B
OB
: Hi, Tom. What's new? T
OM
: Did you hear that they're raising taxes again? B
OB
: That's not new.