Common expression phrases

Thank you for everything.

Meaning:

• General Gratitude: Expresses appreciation for multiple actions or support received.
• Acknowledgment: Recognizes the total impact of someone's help or kindness.
• Sincere Thanks: Shows genuine and heartfelt appreciation.

Thank you

Meaning:

• Acknowledgment: Recognizes and appreciates a specific action or favor.
• Gratitude: Expresses appreciation for help, kindness, or support.
• Politeness: Demonstrates good manners in social interactions.

Hi! I am [Name]

Meaning:

• Introduction: A straightforward way to present yourself to others.
• Friendly Greeting: Opens a conversation in a casual or formal setting.
• Self-Identification: Helps others learn your name and engage with you more personally.

Nice to meet you.

Meaning:

• Polite Greeting: Shows courtesy when being introduced to someone new.
• Positive Impression: Indicates that you are pleased to make the acquaintance.
• Social Courtesy: A standard expression used to establish rapport and friendliness.

Where are you from?

Meaning:

• To ask about the specific location or city where someone was born or has lived for a significant time. (Geographical Origin)
• To understand someone's cultural or ethnic background. (Cultural Background)
• To get a sense of someone's background or upbringing, which can sometimes be used in a broader context. (Personal Background)

What do you do?

Meaning: Most adults ask each other this question when they meet. It means what do you do for a living.

What do you like to do?

Meaning:

• To inquire about activities or hobbies someone enjoys in their free time. (Personal Interests)
• To understand what someone does for relaxation or enjoyment. (Leisure Activities)
• To get a sense of what someone values or finds fulfilling. (Passions and Preferences)

What is your phone number?

Meaning:

• If you want to keep in contact with someone you just met, ask this question to find out their phone number.
• To obtain someone's phone number for future communication. (Request for Contact Information)
• To confirm or exchange phone numbers for a particular purpose. (Verification)
• To facilitate further contact or follow-up. (Networking)

I really appreciate…

Meaning:

• You can also use this phrase to thank someone.
• To show thankfulness for an action, gift, or support. (Expressing Gratitude)
• To recognize and value someone’s effort or contribution. (Acknowledging Effort)
• To convey respect and acknowledgment for someone’s actions or qualities. (Showing Respect)

Excuse me.

Meaning:

• To signal that you need someone’s attention. (Getting Attention)
• To ask for forgiveness for a minor infraction or interruption. (Apologizing)
• To politely ask for something or ask someone to move. (Making a Request)
• To request repetition or clarification of something that wasn’t heard or understood. (Clarifying)

I am sorry.

Meaning:

• Use this phrase to apologize, whether for something big or small.
• To express regret for a mistake, offense, or inconvenience caused. (Apologizing)
• To admit fault or responsibility for an error. (Acknowledging Mistakes)
• To convey compassion or empathy for someone’s situation. (Expressing Sympathy)

What do you think?

Meaning:

• When you want to hear someone’s opinion on a topic.
• To ask for someone’s thoughts or views on a topic. (Requesting Opinion)
• To get input or advice on a decision or idea. (Seeking Feedback)
• To prompt someone to express their viewpoint in a conversation. (Encouraging Discussion)

How does that sound?

Meaning:

• If you suggest an idea or plan, use this phrase to find out what others think.
• To verify if a suggestion or plan is satisfactory. (Seeking Confirmation)
• To ask for someone's opinion on an idea or proposal. (Requesting Feedback)
• To ensure that the other person is on board with what has been proposed. (Checking Agreement)

That sounds great.

Meaning: If you like an idea, you can respond to “How does that sound?” with this phrase.

(Oh,) never mind.

Meaning: Let’s say someone does not understand an idea you are trying to explain.

I am learning English.

Meaning:

• To let others know that you are currently engaged in learning the English language. (Indicating Study)
• To explain that your proficiency might not be perfect and to ask for patience. (Seeking Understanding)
• To inform others about your efforts to learn English, often to elicit support or encouragement. (Sharing Progress)
• This simple phrase tells people that English is not your native language.

I do not understand.

Meaning: Use this phrase when you do not understand what someone means.

Could you repeat that please?

Meaning:

• To ask someone to say something again for better clarity or understanding. (Request for Repetition)
• To ensure that information is correctly heard or understood. (Seeking Clarification)
• To facilitate clear communication when the initial message was not clear. (Improving Communication)
• If you would like someone to say a word, question or phrase again, use this question.

Could you please talk slower?

Meaning: Fast English is hard to understand! This is an easy way to ask someone to speak more slowly.

Thank you. That helps a lot.

Meaning: After someone starts speaking more slowly for you, thank them with this.

What does _____ mean?

Meaning: When you hear or see a new word, use this phrase to ask what it means.

How do you spell that?

Meaning: You could also ask someone, “Could you spell that for me?”

What do you mean?

Meaning: When you understand the words one by one, but not what they mean together, use this question.

Can you help me?

Meaning: If you need help while you are shopping, this is a simple way to ask.

I am looking for…

Meaning: If you cannot find what you want in a store, you can ask a salesperson to help you find it.

Do you have this [object] in a different color?

Meaning: If you see something you like, but you do not like the color.

Where can I find [item]?

Meaning: Since every supermarket is set up a little differently, we all can have difficulty finding certain items.

How can I help you?

Meaning: If you work in customer service, you will use this phrase a lot.

Please call me (back) at…

Meaning: When you want someone to call you or to call you back, use this phrase to give your phone number.

(Oh really?) Actually, I thought…

Meaning: When you disagree with someone, “Actually, I thought…” will make you sound kinder and more polite than saying “No” or “You are wrong.”.

I am (just) about to [verb]…

Meaning: When you are going to start something very soon, you are “just about to” do something.

Be careful.

Meaning: Be careful.

Be careful driving.

Meaning: Be careful driving.

Can you translate this for me?

Meaning: Can you translate this for me?

Chicago is very different from Boston.

Meaning: Chicago is very different from Boston.

Don't worry.

Meaning: Don't worry.

Everyone knows it.

Meaning: Everyone knows it.

Everything is ready.

Meaning: Everything is ready.

Excellent.

Meaning: Excellent.

From time to time.

Meaning: From time to time.

Good idea.

Meaning: Good idea.

He likes it very much.

Meaning: He likes it very much.

Help!

Meaning: Help!

He's coming soon.

Meaning: He's coming soon.

He's right.

Meaning: He's right.

He's very annoying.

Meaning: He's very annoying.

He's very famous.

Meaning: He's very famous.

How are you?

Meaning: How are you?

How's work going?

Meaning: How's work going?

Hurry!

Meaning: Hurry!

I ate already.

Meaning: I ate already.

I can't hear you.

Meaning: I can't hear you.

I'd like to go for a walk.

Meaning: I'd like to go for a walk.

I don't know how to use it.

Meaning: I don't know how to use it.

I don't like him.

Meaning: I don't like him.

I don't like it.

Meaning: I don't like it.

I don't speak very well.

Meaning: I don't speak very well.

I don't understand.

Meaning: I don't understand.

I don't want it.

Meaning: I don't want it.

I don't want that.

Meaning: I don't want that.

I don't want to bother you.

Meaning: I don't want to bother you.

I feel good.

Meaning: I feel good.

If you need my help, please let me know.

Meaning: If you need my help, please let me know.

I get off of work at 6.

Meaning: I get off of work at 6.

I have a headache.

Meaning: I have a headache.

I hope you and your wife have a nice trip.

Meaning: I hope you and your wife have a nice trip.

I know.

Meaning: I know.

I like her.

Meaning: I like her.

I'll call you when I leave.

Meaning: I'll call you when I leave.

I'll come back later.

Meaning: I'll come back later.

I'll pay.

Meaning: I'll pay.

I'll take it.

Meaning: I'll take it.

I'll take you to the bus stop.

Meaning: I'll take you to the bus stop.

I lost my watch.

Meaning: I lost my watch.

I love you.

Meaning: I love you.

I'm an American.

Meaning: I'm an American.

I'm cleaning my room.

Meaning: I'm cleaning my room.

I'm cold.

Meaning: I'm cold.

I'm coming to pick you up.

Meaning: I'm coming to pick you up.

I'm going to leave.

Meaning: I'm going to leave.

I'm good, and you?

Meaning: I'm good, and you?

I'm happy.

Meaning: I'm happy.

I'm hungry.

Meaning: I'm hungry.

I'm married.

Meaning: I'm married.

I'm not busy.

Meaning: I'm not busy.

I'm not married.

Meaning: I'm not married.

I'm not ready yet.

Meaning: I'm not ready yet.

I'm not sure.

Meaning: I'm not sure.

I'm sorry, we're sold out.

Meaning: I'm sorry, we're sold out.

I'm thirsty.

Meaning: I'm thirsty.

I'm very busy. I don't have time now.

Meaning: I'm very busy. I don't have time now.

I need to change clothes.

Meaning: I need to change clothes.

I need to go home.

Meaning: I need to go home.

I only want a snack.

Meaning: I only want a snack.

Is Mr. Smith an American?

Meaning: Is Mr. Smith an American?

Is that enough?

Meaning: Is that enough?

I think it's very good.

Meaning: I think it's very good.

I think it tastes good.

Meaning: I think it tastes good.

I thought the clothes were cheaper.

Meaning: I thought the clothes were cheaper.

It's longer than 2 miles.

Meaning: It's longer than 2 miles.

I've been here for two days.

Meaning: I've been here for two days.

I've heard Texas is a beautiful place.

Meaning: I've heard Texas is a beautiful place.

I've never seen that before.

Meaning: I've never seen that before.

I was about to leave the restaurant when my friends arrived.

Meaning: I was about to leave the restaurant when my friends arrived.

Just a little.

Meaning: Just a little.

Just a moment.

Meaning: Just a moment.

Let me check.

Meaning: Let me check.

Let me think about it.

Meaning: Let me think about it.

Let's go have a look.

Meaning: Let's go have a look.

Let's practice English.

Meaning: Let's practice English.

May I speak to

Meaning: May I speak to Mrs. Smith please?

More than that.

Meaning: More than that.

Next time.

Meaning: Next time.

No.

Meaning: No.

Nonsense.

Meaning: Nonsense.

No, thank you.

Meaning: No, thank you.

Nothing else.

Meaning: Nothing else.

Not recently.

Meaning: Not recently.

Not yet.

Meaning: Not yet.

Of course.

Meaning: Of course.

Okay.

Meaning: Okay.

Please fill out this form.

Meaning: Please fill out this form.

Please take me to this address.

Meaning: Please take me to this address.

Please write it down.

Meaning: Please write it down.

Really?

Meaning: Really?

Right here.

Meaning: Right here.

Right there.

Meaning: Right there.

See you later.

Meaning: See you later.

See you tomorrow.

Meaning: See you tomorrow.

See you tonight.

Meaning: See you tonight.

She's pretty.

Meaning: She's pretty.

Sorry to bother you.

Meaning: Sorry to bother you.

Stop!

Meaning: Stop!

Take a chance.

Meaning: Take a chance.

Take it outside.

Meaning: Take it outside.

Tell me.

Meaning: Tell me.

Thanks for everything.

Meaning: Thanks for everything.

Thanks for your help.

Meaning: Thanks for your help.

Thank you miss.

Meaning: Thank you miss.

Thank you sir.

Meaning: Thank you sir.

Thank you very much.

Meaning: Thank you very much.

That looks great.

Meaning: That looks great.

That's alright.

Meaning: That's alright.

That's enough.

Meaning: That's enough.

That's fine.

Meaning: That's fine.

That's it.

Meaning: That's it.

That smells bad.

Meaning: That smells bad.

That's not fair.

Meaning: That's not fair.

That's not right.

Meaning: That's not right.

That's right.

Meaning: That's right.

That's too bad.

Meaning: That's too bad.

That's too many.

Meaning: That's too many.

That's too much.

Meaning: That's too much.

The book is under the table.

Meaning: The book is under the table.

They'll be right back.

Meaning: They'll be right back.

They're the same.

Meaning: They're the same.

They're very busy.

Meaning: They're very busy.

This doesn't work.

Meaning: This doesn't work.

This is very difficult.

Meaning: This is very difficult.

This is very important.

Meaning: This is very important.

Try it.

Meaning: Try it.

Very good, thanks.

Meaning: Very good, thanks.

We like it very much.

Meaning: We like it very much.

Would you take a message please?

Meaning: Would you take a message please?

Yes, really.

Meaning: Yes, really.

You're beautiful.

Meaning: You're beautiful.

You're very nice.

Meaning: You're very nice.

You're very smart.

Meaning: You're very smart.

Your things are all here.

Meaning: Your things are all here.