Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (98 page)

I spoke too soon. 1
.
I am wrong.; I spoke before I knew the facts.
B
ILL
: I know I said I would, but I spoke too soon. S
UE
: I thought so
.
J
OHN
: You said that everything would be all right. J
ANE
: I spoke too soon. That was before I learned that you had been arrested
.
2
.
What I had said was just now contradicted.
B
OB
: It's beginning to brighten up. I guess it won't rain after all. J
OHN
: I'm glad to hear that. B
OB
: Whoops! I spoke too soon. I just felt a raindrop on my cheek
.
B
ILL
: Thank heavens! Here's John now. B
OB
: No, that's Fred. B
ILL
: I spoke too soon. He sure looked like John.

I 'spose
.
Go to I guess.

I 'spose not
.
Go to I guess not.

I 'spose (so)
.
Go to I guess (so).

I suppose
.
Go to I guess.

I suppose not
.
Go to I guess not.

I suppose (so)
.
Go to I guess (so).

I suspect
.
Go to I guess.

I suspect not
.
Go to I guess not.

I suspect (so)
.
Go to I guess (so).

I think not
.
Go to I guess not.

I think so
.
Go to I guess (so).

(I was) just wondering
.
a comment made after hearing a response to a previous question.
J
OHN
: Do you always keep your film in the refrigerator? M
ARY
: Yes. Why? J
OHN
: I was just wondering
.
B
OB
: Did this cost a lot? S
UE
: I really don't think you need to know that. B
OB
: Sorry. Just wondering.

I was up all night with a sick friend
.
an unlikely but popular excuse for not being where one was supposed to be the night before.
B
ILL
: Where in the world were you last night? M
ARY
: Well, I was up all night with a sick friend
.
Mr. Franklin said rather sheepishly, “Would you believe I was up with a sick friend?”

I wish I'd said that
.
a comment of praise or admiration for someone's clever remark.
M
ARY
: The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. S
UE
: I wish I'd said that. M
ARY
: I wish I'd said it first
.
J
OHN
: Tom is simply not able to see through the airy persiflage of Mary's prolix declamation. J
ANE
: I wish I'd said that. J
OHN
: I'm sorry I did.

(I) wonder if
a phrase introducing a hypothesis.
H
ENRY
: I wonder if I could have another piece of cake. S
UE
: Sure. Help yourself
.
A
NDREW
: Wonder if it's stopped raining yet. R
ACHEL
: Why don't you look out the window?
A
NDREW
: I wonder if I'll pass algebra. F
ATHER
: That thought is on all our minds.