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Question 1

(Is it) hot enough for you ?

Answer 1

Inf. a greeting inquiry made during very hot weather.

Bob: Hi, Bill! Is it hot enough for you? Bill: Yup. John: Nice to see you here! Is it hot enough for you? Bill: Good grief, yes! This is awful!

Question 2

Is -someone- there?

Answer 2

a way of requesting to talk to someone in particular over the telephone. (This is not just a request to find out where someone is. The someone is usually a person’s name.)

Tom: Hello? Mary: Hello. Is Bill there? Tom: No. Can I take a message? Tom: Hello? Mary: Hello. Is Tom there? Tom: Speaking.

Question 3

Is that so? & Is that right? (0)

Answer 3

Is what you said correct? (With rising question intonation.)

Henry: These are the ones we need. Andrew: Is that right? They don’t look so good to me. Fred: Tom is the one who came in late. Rachel: Is that so? It looked like Bill to me.

Question 4

Is that so? & Is that right? (1)

Answer 4

That is what you say, but I do not believe you. (No rising question intonation. Slightly rude.)

Mary: You are making a mess of this. Alice: Is that so? And I suppose that you’re perfect? Bob: I found your performance to be weak in a number of places. Henry: Is that right? I suppose you could have done better?

Question 5

Is there any truth to -something-?

Answer 5

Is something true?; Is what I have heard true? (no truth to in the negative.)

Is there any truth to the gossip that Harry is leaving school? No, there is no truth to that at all.

Question 6

(Is) this (seat) taken?

Answer 6

an inquiry made by a person in a theater, auditorium, etc., asking someone already seated whether an adjacent seat is available or already taken.

Finally, Bill came to a row where there was an empty seat. Bill leaned over to the person sitting beside the empty seat and whispered, “Is this seat taken?” Fred: ’Scuse me. This taken? Alice: No. Help yourself.

Question 7

Isolate from

Answer 7

to keep people or things separated from one another, in any combination.

They isolated everyone from Sam, who was ill with malaria. We isolated the children from the source of the disease.

Question 8

Issue a call for

Answer 8

to make a public invitation or request for something.

The prime minister issued a call for peace. The person who organized the writing contest issued a call for entries.

Question 9

Issue (forth) from

Answer 9

to go out or come out of a place.

The news releases issued forth from the pressroom on a regular basis. Clear water issued from the side of the hill.

Question 10

Issue from

Answer 10

to come out or flow out of something.

A delicious perfume issued from Sally’s hair as she passed. A wonderful aroma issued from the kitchen as the bread baked.

Question 11

Issue with

Answer 11

to provide someone with something; to distribute something to someone.

We issued them with the clothes they needed for the trip. Everyone was issued with supplies.

Question 12

Issue as

Answer 12

to release or send out something as something.

They issued this month’s magazine as a special double issue. The publisher issued this month’s magazine as the very last one.

Question 13

Issue to

Answer 13

to distribute or dispense something to someone.

The front office issued new assignments to everyone today. New keys were issued to everyone.

Question 14

It ain’t fittin’

Answer 14

Rur. It is not right; It is inappropriate.

It ain’t fittin’ for the bridegroom to see his bride before the ceremony. Young folks shouldn’t talk back to their elders. It ain’t fittin’.

Question 15

(It) beats me & (It’s) got me beat; you got me beat

Answer 15

Inf. I do not know the answer.; I cannot figure it out. The question has me stumped. (The stress is on me.)

Bill: When are we supposed to go over to Tom’s? Bill: Beats me. Sally: What’s the largest river in the world? Bob: You got me beat.

Question 16

It behooves -one- to

Answer 16

Cliché it is necessary for one to do something; it is incumbent (up)on someone to do something.

It behooves me to report the crime. It behooves you to pay for the window that you broke.

Question 17

It blows my mind!

Answer 17

Sl. It really amazes and shocks me.

Bill: Did you hear about Tom’s winning the lottery? Sue: Yes, it blows my mind! John: Look at all that paper! What a waste of trees! Jane: It blows my mind!

Question 18

(It) can’t be helped & (it) couldn’t be helped

Answer 18

Nothing can be done to help the situation.; The situation could not have been avoided.

John: The accident has blocked traffic in two directions. Jane: It can’t be helped. They have to get the people out of the cars and send them to the hospital. Bill: My goodness, the lawn looks dead! Sue: It can’t be helped. There’s no rain and water is rationed. John: I’m sorry I broke your figurine. Sue: It couldn’t be helped. John: I’ll replace it. Sue: That would be nice. Bill: I’m sorry I’m late. I hope it didn’t mess things up. Bob: It can’t be helped.

Question 19

(It) couldn’t be better & (Things) couldn’t be better

Answer 19

Everything is fine.

John: How are things going? Jane: Couldn’t be better. Bill: I hope everything is okay with your new job. Mary: Things couldn’t be better.

Question 20

It cuts two ways

Answer 20

Inf. There are two sides to the situation. You have to help, too. It cuts two ways.

It cuts two ways, you know. It can’t always all be my fault.

Question 21

(It) doesn’t bother me any & (It) doesn’t bother me at all

Answer 21

It does not trouble me at all.; I have no objection. (Compare this with (It) don’t bother me none. Not very polite or cordial. See also (It) won’t bother me any. for the future tense of this expression.)

John: Do you mind if I sit here? Jane: Doesn’t bother me any. Sally (smoking a cigarette): Do you mind if I smoke? Bill: It doesn’t bother me any.

Question 22

(It) doesn’t hurt to ask. & (It) never hurts to ask

Answer 22

a phrase said when one asks a question, even when the answer is known to be no.

John: Can I take some of these papers home with me? Jane: No, you can’t. You know that. John: Well, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Sue: Can I have two of these? Sally: Certainly not! Sue: Well, it never hurts to ask. Sally: Well, it just may!