Quite a few English words or expressions, which British people use most frequently1 in their daily life, can never ever be learnt or known2 exactly from our textbooks. Not until one day we are in Britain. Here are some best ones:
Are you all right?-------你好吗?
This is the most commonly used greeting when people meet each other rather than how are you? from our textbook.
eg. ------Are you all right, David?
------Fine, thank you.
Cheers3!------谢谢, 再见!
While they get off the bus or buy things from shops etc, very often we can hear them saying Cheers! to the drivers or sellers4 instead of Thank You or Goodbye.
eg. ---------Five pounds fifty, please. Cheers!
---------Cheers!
Give me a minute!------请稍等一会!
eg. Give me a minute, David! I will find the map for you.
Does it make sense?-----你明白我的意思吗?
eg. If you buy a day ticket, you will save more. Does it make sense?
I don’t follow you.-------我不明白你说什麽
eg. Sorry, I don’t follow, you. Could you say it again?
Are you kidding(joking)?-----你在开玩笑吧?
eg. ------Are you kidding,David?
-------I am not going to kid you, I am being serious!
I am behind you. ---------我支持你
eg Whatever decision you are going to make, I am behind you.
Do you really mean it?----------此话当真?
eg. ------- I can give what you want.
-------Do you really mean it?
-------Yes, I mean it!
That depends.--------那得看情况而定
eg. ---------Will you come here on that day?
----------That depends.
Feel free to do it-------请随意……
eg. If you have any problem, please feel free to ask me.
What’s going on?--------怎麽了?
eg. -------What’s going on here?
-------He got his watch broken, I am helping5 fix it.
get on with it!--------快点!
eg. Get on with it, we have no time left!
Get a move on!---------赶快行动吧!
eg. Get a move on and help yourself to some food!
Believe it or not!-------信不信由你!
eg. Believe it or not, I don’t know how to cook!
Come to think of it.---------说到这……
eg. Come to think of it, let me tell you what the school is like first
eg. Ok, that’s a deal! Be there or be square!
my fingers crossed--------祝君好运!
eg. I hope you can pass the exam: my fingers crossed!
I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Wish you a prosperous6 new year!-------恭喜发财!
eg. I wish you a prosperous new year and all the best for your future!
Are you struggling to do it?-------有困难吗?
eg. Are you struggling to live in Britain?
You are dead meat!---------你死定了!
eg. Help me out, otherwise I am dead meat!
You scared me!----------你吓着我了!
eg. ---------Did I scare7 you?
----------Yes, you did!
Don’t get me wrong!--------别误会我!
eg. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mean that
Don’t let me down!----------别让我失望!
eg. Don’t let me down, I am sure you can make it!
You make me sick!----------你让我恶心!
eg. Get out of here, you make me sick!
We are even!------------------我们扯平了!
eg. You don’t tell me the truth, either. We are even!
It’s a must-see!----------------非看不可!
eg. The movie Star World is a must-see