Common expression phrases

Thank you for everything.

Meaning: Thank you for everything.

Thank you

Meaning: This is a simple sentence you can use to thank someone.

Hi! I am [Name]

Meaning: Here is an informal greeting you can use when you meet new friends. If the person does not tell you their name, you can say your name first.

Nice to meet you.

Meaning: After you learn each other’s names, it is polite to say this phrase.

Where are you from?

Meaning: Ask this question to find out which country someone is from.

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: Instead of asking for someone’s job title, I prefer to ask what they enjoy doing.

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.

I really appreciate…

Meaning: You can also use this phrase to thank someone.

Excuse me.

Meaning: When you need to get through but there is someone blocking your way, say “Excuse me.”

I am sorry.

Meaning: Use this phrase to apologize, whether for something big or small.

What do you think?

Meaning: When you want to hear someone’s opinion on a topic.

How does that sound?

Meaning: If you suggest an idea or plan, use this phrase to find out what others think.

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: 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: 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.