Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts Read Online Free Page B

. Go to (I’ve) been under the weather.
    Been up to no good . Go to (I’ve) been up to no good.
    Beg pardon . Go to (I) beg your pardon.
    beg the question 1 . to evade the issue; to carry on a false argument in which one assumes as proved the very point that is being argued.
Stop arguing in circles. You’re begging the question
.
It’s hopeless to argue with Sally. She always begs the question
. 2 . to invite the asking of the following question. (A completely incorrect reinterpretation of the phrase. Very popular in the last few years.)
His behavior begs the question: Is he basically rude or just dull?
This letter begs the question: “How much money should I charge?
”
    Beg your pardon . Go to (I) beg your pardon.
    beg your pardon, but Go to (I) beg your pardon, but.
    begging your pardon, but Go to (I) beg your pardon, but.
    Behind you ! Look behind you!; There is danger behind you!
“Behind you!” shouted Tom just as a car raced past and nearly knocked Mary over.
Alice shouted, “Behind you!” just as the pickpocket made off with Fred’s wallet.
    believe it or not an expression indicating that a previous statement is true whether or not the hearer believes it.
T OM : Well, Fred really saved the day. S UE : Believe it or not, I’m the one who saved the day
.
B ILL : How good is this one? C LERK : This is the best one we have, believe it or not.
    Believe you me ! You really should believe me!; You’d better take my word for it!
A LICE : Is it hot in that room? F RED : It really is. Believe you me!
S UE : How do you like my cake? J OHN : Believe you me, this is the best cake I’ve ever eaten!
    (The) best of luck (to you) . I wish you good luck.
A LICE : Goodbye, Bill. B ILL : Goodbye, Alice. Best of luck. A LICE : Thanks. Bye
.
“Good-bye, and the best of luck to you,” shouted Mary, waving and crying at the same time.
    Better be going . Go to (I’d) better be going.
    Better be off . Go to (I’d) better be going.
    Better get moving . Go to (I’d) better get moving. See also (You’d) better get moving.
    Better get on my horse . Go to (I’d) better get on my horse.
    Better hit the road . Go to (It’s) time to hit the road.
    Better keep quiet about it . Go to (Someone had) better keep still about it.
    Better keep still about it . Go to (Someone had) better keep still about it.
    Better late than never . a catchphrase said when someone arrives late or when something happens or is done late.
M ARY : Hi, Tom. Sorry I’m late. B ILL : Fret not! Better late than never
.
When Fred showed up at the doctor’s office three days after his appointment, the receptionist said, “Well, better late than never.
”
    better left unsaid [of a topic that] should not be discussed; [of a thought that] everyone is thinking, but would cause difficulty if talked about in public. (Typically follows
It is …, That is …, The details are …
, or even
Some things are …
)
M ARY : I really don’t know how to tell you this. B OB : Then don’t. Maybe it’s better left unsaid
.
B ILL : I had a such a terrible fight with Sally last night. I can’t believe what I said. B OB : I don’t need to hear all about it. Some things are better left unsaid.
    Better luck next time. 1 . an expression that comforts someone for a minor failure. (Said with a pleasant tone of voice.)
B ILL : That does it! I can’t run any farther. I lose! B OB : Too bad. Better luck next time
.
M ARY : Well, that’s the end of my brand-new weight-lifting career. J ANE : Better luck next time
. 2 . an expression that ridicules someone for a failure. (Said with rudeness or sarcasm. The tone of voice distinguishes sense 2 from sense 1.)
S ALLY : I lost out to Sue, but I think she cheated. M ARY : Better luck next time
.
S UE : You thought you could get ahead of me, you twit! Better luck next time! S ALLY : I still think you cheated.
    Better mind your Ps and