Phrases from A to Z

Question 1

recognition for having tried to do something even if it was not successful.

Answer 1

an A for effort

The plan didn’t work, but I’ll give you an A for effort for trying.

Bobby played his violin in the concert and got an A for effort. Tom said, “It sounded terrible!”

Question 2

a strong affirmation.

Answer 2

Absolutely!

MOTHER: Do you want another piece of cake?
CHILD: Absolutely!

Q: Are you ready to go?
A: Absolutely!

Question 3

a strong denial or refusal.

Answer 3

Absolutely not!

(Compare to Definitely not!)

Bob: Will you please slip this bottle into your pocket? BILL: Absolutely not!
Bob: Can I please have the car again tonight? FATHER: Absolutely not! You can’t have the car every night!

Question 4

Behave more maturely!

A rebuke for someone who is acting childish. Often said to a child who is acting like an even younger child.

Answer 4

Act your age!

Johnny was squirming around and pinching his sister. His mother finally said, “Johnny, act your age! ”

CHILD: Aw, come on! Let me see your book! MARY: Be quiet and act your age. Don’t be such a baby.

Question 5

Good-bye.

From Spanish. Used in casual or familiar conver- sation.

Answer 5

Adios.

Bob: See you later, man. BILL: Yeah, man. Adios.

Bob: Adios, my friend.
MARY: See you, Bob.

Question 6

in addition; considering the fact that; thinking in retro-spect.

Answer 6

after all

You should really be nicer to him. After all, he is your brother.

A: But he acts very rude sometimes, and he’s so boring. B: But really, Sally, after all!

Question 7

Good-bye till later;
See you later.
(Crocodile is used only for the sake of the rhyme. This is the response to See you later, alligator.)

Answer 7

After whiIe(,crocodile).

MARY: See you later. BILL: After while, crocodile.
JANE: After while. MARY: Toodle-oo.

Question 8

a polite way of encouraging someone to go ahead of oneself; a polite way of indicating that someone else should or can go first.

Answer 8

After you

Bob stepped back and made a motion with his hand indicating that Mary should go first. “After you,” smiled Bob.
Bob: It’s time to get in the food line. Who’s going to go first?
BILL: After you. Bob: Thanks.

Question 9

Say it one more time, please.

Answer 9

Again(,please).

TOM: I need some money. I’ll pay you back. BILL (pretending not to hear): Again, please.
Tom: I said I need some money. How many times do I have to say it?

The play director said, “Again, please. And speak more clearly this time.”

Question 10

a comical and slightly rude way of encouraging someone to go ahead of oneself; a comical, teasing, and slightly grudging way of indicating that someone else should or can go first.

Answer 10

Age before beauty

As they approached the door, Bob laughed and said to Bill, “Age before beauty.”

“No, no. Please, you take the next available seat,” smiled Tom. “Age before beauty, you know.”

Question 11

Excuse me!;
Look in this direction!; Give me your attention! (This is a way of spelling the sound of clearing one’s throat to draw someone’s attention.)

Answer 11

Ahem!

Andy: Ahem!
Don: Did somebody say something?

Andy: Ahem! DAVE: Oh, sorry. Andy. What do you want?
Dave: Ahem! Andy. ANDY: What?
DAVE: There was a spider crawling up your pants leg but I don’t see it now.

Question 12

Isn’t that just the way it is?I agree with you completely. Informal.)

Answer 12

Ain’t it the truth?

A: Things aren’t the way they used to be in the good old days.
B: Ain’t it the truth?

A: You just can’t buy good shoes anymore. B: Ain‘t it the truth?

Question 13

safe, healthy, and unharmed.

Answer 13

alive and well
alive and kicking
safe and sound

How have you guys been? Haven’t seen much of you. A: We’re alive and well. Having a great time.

Q. Have you heard from Tom and Jan? Did they go out of town?
A: No. they’re at home, safe and sound.

Question 14

A transition indicating a summary

A generalization or announcement of a conclusion

Answer 14

All in all
All things considered
on balance

All in all, this was a fine evening. I think so too.

Our time at the conference was well spent, all in all, though Fred.

How did it go? On balance, it went quite well.

Did the play turn a profit? I supposed that e made a nice profit, all things considered.

Question 15

Things are not totally bad. This is not a total failure.

Answer 15

All is not lost.

Don’t worry. I’ll help. All is not lost.

All is not lost. Here comes Reggie with a jar of French mustard!

Question 16

1. completed; done; finished.

2. everywhere.

Answer 16

all over

Hooray. The play has ended, and it was it a huge success. Yippee! It’s all over!

It’s all over for Fred. He was fired today, and two guards led him out of the building.

TOM: I think I shouldn’t have mentioned Fred’s problems. I hope it doesn’t become gossip. ANN: You should have keep your mouth shut. It’s all over now.

The disease started out slowly, hitting only a few neighborhoods. Now it’s all over.

Question 17

An indication of agreement or acquiescence.

2. a shout of agreement or encouragement.

Answer 17

1. All right. (Often pro- nounced aright in familiar conversation.)

FATHER: Do it now, before you forget. BILL: All right.

TOM: Please remember to bring me back a pizza. SALLY: All right, but i get some of it.

2. (Usually All right!)

ALICE: Come on, let’s give Sally some encouragement. FRED: All right, Sally! Keep it up! You can do it!

That’s the way to go! All right!” shouted various members of the audience.

Question 18

an impatient way of indicating agreement or acquiescence. (The second version is more comical than rude. Dated but still used.)

Answer 18

All right already!
All righty already!

ALICE: All right already! Stop pushing me! MARY: I didn’t do anything!
BILL: Come on! Get over here! Bob: All righty already! Don’t rush me.

Question 19

an indication that everything is ready or that things are going along as planned. (Borrowed from the jargon used during American’s early space exploration)

Answer 19

All systems are go.

Bill: Can we leave now? Is the car gassed up and ready?
Bob: All systems are go. Let’s get going!

Sally: Are you all rested up for the truck meet?
Mary: Yes. All systems are go.

Question 20

to do something with even better reason or cause for doing something. (Can be included in a number of grammatical constructions.)

Answer 20

all the more reason for doing something

AND all the more reason

BILL: I don’t do well in calculus because I don’t like the stuff. FATHER: All the more reason for working harder at it.

Bob: I‘m tired of painting this fence. lt’s so old it’s rotting! SALLY: All the more reason to paint it.

Question 21

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.

Answer 21

Allow me. AND Permit me.

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 light-ing Jane’s cigarette.

Question 22

almost having lost one’s temper, composure. or control (Also literal.)

Answer 22

almost lost it

I was so mad, I almost lost it.

When he saw the dent in his fender, he almost lost it.

Question 23

Aloha. 1. Hello. (Hawaiian. Used in casual or familiar conversation or in Hawaii.)
2. Good- bye. (Hawaiian. Used in casual or familiar conversation or in Hawaii)

Answer 23

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Aloha” Welcome,” smiled the hostess. ALICE: Hello. Can I come in? SUE: Aloha and Welcome