Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts Read Online Free Page A

three-minute presentation today. Let’s get started with the first one. Batter up!
Somebody has to start. Who wants to be first? Come on. Batter up!
    Be careful. 1 . an instruction to take care in a particular situation.
B ILL : I’m going to the beach tomorrow. S ALLY : Be careful. Use lots of sunscreen!
J ANE : Well, we’re off to the Amazon. M ARY : Heavens! Be careful!
2 . a way of saying
good-bye
while cautioning the hearer to take care.
J OHN : See you around, Fred. F RED : Be careful
.
A LICE : Well, I’m off. J OHN : Bye, Alice. Be careful.
    Be good . a departure response meaning “Good-bye and behave yourself.”
J ANE : Well, we’re off. Be back in a week. M ARY : Okay, have fun. Be good. J ANE : Do I have to?
T OM : Bye. Be good. B ILL : See ya.
    Be happy to (do something). Go to (I’d be) happy to (do something).
    Be my guest . Help yourself.; After you. (A polite way of indicating that one should go first, help oneself, or take the last bit of something.)
M ARY : I would just love to have some more cake, but there is only one piece left. S ALLY : Be my guest. M ARY : Wow! Thanks!
J ANE : Here’s the door. Who should go in first? B ILL : Be my guest. I’ll wait out here. J ANE : Why don’t you go first?
    Be quiet ! Stop talking or making noise. (Made polite with
please.
)
B ILL (entering the room): Hey, Tom! T OM : Please be quiet! I’m on
the phone.
T OM : Hey, Bill! B ILL : Be quiet! You’re too noisy. T OM : Sorry.
    Be right there . Go to (I’ll) be right there.
    Be right with you . Go to (I’ll) be right with you.
    Be seeing you . Go to (I’ll) be seeing you.
    Be thankful for small blessings . Be grateful for any small benefits or advantages one has, especially in a generally difficult situation.
We have very little money, but we must be thankful for small blessings. At least we have enough food
.
Bob was badly injured in the accident, but at least he’s still alive. Let’s be thankful for small blessings.
    Be that as it may even though that may be true.
S UE : I’m sorry that I am late for the test. I overslept. R ACHEL : Be that as it may, you have missed the test and will have to petition for a makeup examination
.
H ENRY : I lost my job, so I couldn’t make the car payment on time. R ACHEL : Be that as it may, the payment is overdue, and we’ll have to take the car back.
    be the case to be true, describing an actual situation.
I think Bill is a vegetarian, and if that is the case, we should not serve him meat
.
Susie believes trees can talk, but that is not the case.
    Be there or be square . You really must come to the event. (Older slang. Still heard.
Square
= uncool.)
There is a gathering this evening at the boss’s house. Sure to be a joyous occasion. Be there or be square
.
There is a big concert in the park tonight. Some local rock star will perform. Be there or be square.
    Be with you in a minute . Go to (Someone will) be with you in a minute.
    Bear up ! Be brave!; Show courage!
Bear up, Fred! You can do it. It will all be over in a few days
.
I know that things are going badly just now, but bear up! We are all standing behind you.
    Beat it ! Go away!; Get out! (Slang.)
B ILL : Sorry I broke your radio. B OB : Get out of here! Beat it!
“Beat it, you kids! Go play somewhere else!” yelled the storekeeper.
    Beats me . Go to (It) beats me.
    Been a long time . Go to (It’s) been a long time.
    Been a pleasure . Go to (It’s) been a pleasure.
    Been getting by . Go to (I’ve) been getting by.
    Been keeping busy . Go to (I’ve) been keeping busy. See also (Have you) been keeping busy?
    Been keeping cool . Go to (I’ve) been keeping cool. See also (Have you) been keeping cool?
    Been keeping out of trouble . Go to (I’ve) been keeping out of trouble. See also (Have you) been keeping out of trouble?
    Been okay . Go to (I’ve) been okay. See also (Have you) been okay?
    Been under the weather