* 17 Particular Conversational Matters (p.5 of 9)
17.28 When you offer a person to enter in front of you
You first. Listen A “You go first and I will follow you.” <At the doorway the son told his father, “You first”.>
After you. Listen <Jim opened the door for Bill and said, "After you".>
Ladies first. Listen <“Let’s swim“, suggested Jane. “Ladies first”, said Bob and made a gesture indicating that Jane should get in the water first.>
Be my guest. Listen A “You go first as guests do.” <Tom said, “Here’s the entrance. Be my guest.”>
17.29 When you wish a person well (on various occasions)
Best wishes! Listen <I received a birthday present and postcard from my sister. She wrote, “Best wishes!”>
All the best! Listen A “I wish you all the best!” <When my business partner learned about my promotion, he dropped me a line, “Congratulation! All the best!”>
Good luck! Listen <“This contest is tough. Good luck!”>
Congratulations! Listen <“Dear son, I’m glad you graduated from college. Congratulations!”>
Have a good time! Listen A “Have an enjoyable time!” <“I’m off to a party.” – “Have a good time!”>
Have fun! Listen A “Have a merry and amusing time!” <“I’m leaving to the zoo with a group of my classmates.” – “Have fun!”>
Have a ball! Listen A “Have a good time!” <“I’m going to a school reunion.” – “Have a ball!”>
Enjoy yourself! Listen <“Tonight, I’m going to a bar with my friends.” – “Enjoy yourself. Don’t drink too much, though.”>
Happy birthday! Listen <When I entered the dark room, the guests turned the light on and shouted, “Happy birthday!” >
Many happy returns! Listen A “Let there be many happy returns of this day!” <“Congratulations on your birthday. Many happy returns!”>
…and many, many more. Listen A “…and many more good wishes to you.” <After wishing happy birthday to my sister, the guests said “…and many, many more.”>
Happy anniversary! Listen <The guests congratulated my father, “Happy anniversary!”>
17.30 When you return somebody's good wishes or polite words
Same to you. Listen A “I wish you what you are wishing me.” <“Good luck.” – “Same to you.”>
Likewise. Listen A “The same from me to you.” <“Best wishes to you!” – “Likewise.”>
You too. Listen <“Have a nice day!” – “You too.”>
17.31 When you promise a person to wait
I'll wait for you. Listen <“Don’t be too late. I’ll wait for you.”>
I'll be waiting for you. Listen <“After the reception return home at once. I’ll be waiting for you.”>
I'll stay up for you. Listen <“Don’t get drunk. On the way back, take a taxi. I’ll stay up for you.”>
I'll sit up and wait. Listen <“I can’t go to bed until you come back home. I’ll sit up and wait.”>
17.32 When you ask somebody to leave things as they are
Leave it alone. Listen A “Don’t touch it.” <”You don’t need to wash the car today. Leave it alone. You have more important things to do.”>
Don’t bother. Listen A “Since it is too much trouble, don’t do it.” <“Should I unload the truck today?” – “No, don’t bother. You can do it tomorrow.”>
Don’t bother about it. Listen A “You don’t need to deal with it.” <“It’s not a serious trouble. Don’t bother about it.”>
Let it be. Listen A “You can’t change the situation, so don’t deal with it.” <“I can’t get over his rude remark. I need to do something about it.” – “Let it be. He didn’t mean any harm.”>
Let it go. Listen <“He jeered at me in the presence of my colleagues! Can you believe that?” – “Let it go. You’ll find a way to get even with him.”>
There is no need to. Listen A “There is no need to do it.” <“We might as well make this payment ahead of time.” – “There is no need to. We don’t even have the bill yet.”>
Don't make waves. Listen A “Don’t instigate trouble.” <“It wouldn’t be wise to escalate this conflict. Don’t make waves.”>
Don't rock the boat. Listen A “Don’t disturb the situation unnecessarily.” <“You don’t need to fight with your business partners over petty issues. Don’t rock the boat.”>
Live and let live. Listen A “Don’t interfere with other people’s business.” <“Our political party needs opposition. There should always be political opposition. That’s the name of the game. Live and let live.”>
Let sleeping dogs lie. Listen A “Don’t stir up a troublesome situation.” <“Nobody needs to know the truth about what happened that day. Let sleeping dogs lie.”>
17.33 When you request a person to give you a physical object
Give it to me. Listen <“I need the cell phone urgently. Give it to me.”>
Hand it over. Listen <“Come on! It’s mine! Hand it over.”>
Let me have it. Listen <“This piece of cake looks nice. Let me have it.”>
Let it go. Listen <“Don’t hold my arm. Let it go.”>
Let go of that. Listen <“Don’t hold on to my bag. Let go of it.”>
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