SHORT ANSWERS

SHORT ANSWERS / REPLIES & RESPONSES

Are you quite sure it was your brother? Absolutely!

Are you serious / are you kidding me? / are you having a laugh? (Incredulity)

Would you like to order dinner?" Reply: "Bear in mind that I do not speak French."

Personally, I don't like the British, because the British don't like us. - Fair enough * He needs more time. - Fair enough, but we can't wait too much longer.” Used to say that something is reasonable or fair. A way of agreeing, conceding a point, or admitting while you may not agree with someone's opinion, they are entitled to have it * Come on, it's my turn. Fair's fair!

Get out of here! Two people are talking for a while without knowing each other, and then they fund out they were born in the same town or they went to the same High School.
When they become aware say: Get out of here! (to show surprise).
Asking for clarification. How to express lack of understanding:
I dont know  what you are getting at / what you mean exactly (by saying that)
I beg your pardon, but I don't quite understand * I'm not quite sure I know what you mean *
I'm not quite sure I follow you * I'm not sure I got your point * Sorry, I didn't quite hear what you said * Sorry, I didn't get your point * I don't quite see what you're getting at.

I left work early today.’ ‘How's that? (= Why)?’I think you owe me some money.’ ‘ How come?’ (Why?) I thought her answers didn't make sense.” How so?” (What do you mean?)
  
I never stopped to think about that. (That's a good one: 1. an unbelievable assertion, 2. a very funny joke

That’s a good one !: 1. used for saying that you think a joke is very funny. 2.
used for saying that you think that what someone has said is not true and is intended to trick you: You were invited to the White House? That’s a good one! (tell me another one!)

How did everything go? It went well, thank you

I think not! In British English, I don't think so. and I think not. are both used, although they have different nuances. I don't think so. is more common, and shows a little diffidence or uncertainty * Is it going to rain today? - I don't think so. I'd just wear a t-shirt if I were you.
I think not. is used to disagree emphatically: * You still owe me - I think not! If I hear any more from you about this, you'll be hearing from my solicitor. * That’s just the point, Mr Glover, if I may say so (used to be polite when saying something that may embarrass or offend the person you are talking to)
It wouldn't surprise me! (no me extrañaría) * It doesn't surprise me * No wonder (the children are excited) - this is the first time they've been abroad. (it is not surprising)

My father was elected president of the board. - Fancy that! / Imagine that!. I am very surprised to hear that. That is hard to imagine or believe.* This computer is ten times faster than the one we had before. - Imagine that! Is it easy to operate? - Of course not.

I think I am going to go lose 50 kilos in the next 5 weeks - Keep dreaming! That is impossible! * When my friend told me she wanted to go on a date with Brad Pitt, I told her to keep dreaming.

No way (am I going there). (It's short for "in no way".Note the subject-verb inversion with adv. fronting). The phrase is simply an emphatic Negative * He'll be mad at you. - No way.

May I wait inside? - Surely. (used to answer a question) yes; indeed, certainly

Expressions used to indicate incredulity: Tell me another (one)! What you just told me was a lie, so go ahead and tell me another lie! * Did you know that the football coach was once a dancer in a movie? - Go on! Tell me another one! (yeah, sure!) / yeah, right / no / no way! / for real / go away / bullshit / get out (of here) / get lost / go fuck yourself / You're kidding me, right? / Are you kidding me?

You didn't get in? That sucks! (too bad!), que lastima! vs Good for you! (well done, bien hecho)

Yeah sure / Yeah, right (1) If someone says, "Yeah, right," they’re not casually telling you you’re right. They’re ironically saying “Not likely.”* Yeah, yeah, sure you tell everybody the same thing.

Ways of saying that you do not believe something: are you having a laugh? come now, a likely story, get out of here!...

you're just saying that!  (can be said either jokingly or seriously). This means "You don't really think that / mean it; you're only trying to be nice to me." Say this when someone compliments you, but you don't believe them or if you want to seem humble: * You're one of the smartest people I've ever worked with - Whatever! You're just saying that; A longer version of "You're just saying that" is: You're just saying that to be nice. You can also use this phrase in negative form and in questions: * You look great! -  Really? You're not just saying that? * That was really lame (pathetic, weak, poor, foolish, disappointing, useless). Seriously I'm not just saying that * I'm) just saying!: used when you are making a criticism or complaint, to make it less likely to offend someone: I'm just saying I think it could have been done a little more carefully, that's all. * Isn't it a bit small for you? Just saying

Expressions to show full agreement on sth / for expressing strong agreement: * She's a terrific dancer. - You're telling me! I taught her how.(I'm well aware of that. I know) * This is so boring! - Yeah, You (sure) can say that again!
 
She ran off with another man. - You don't say!; * They lost again. - You don't say. What's that, eight in a row?”used to express surprise at sth.; often used ironically.


 
 
 




ANSWERS
 

1. Expressions used to indicate incredulity

No way 
 
it's short for in no way. The phrase is simply an emphatic Negative
 
No way am I going there. (Note the subject-verb inversion with adverb fronting) 

If you won't go there in any way, you won't go there at all.
 
A: He'll be mad at you.
B: No way.
  
"No way" is simply a contraction of "there is no way that could be 
possible" i.e. the speaker is (hyperbolically) suggesting that they 
simply don't believe the previous speaker's statement is possible. 
 
In the phrase no way it's used in varying degrees of metaphoricity, from the fairly literal sense of "a path": 
"We need to get to the other side of the river."
"[There's] no way [to get there from here]." 
 
...to a more figurative "sequence of events":
"I need you to go out there and draw their fire while I sneak around behind them." 
[There's] no way [you can convince me to do that]."





tell me another (one)! What you just told me was a lie, so go ahead and tell me another lie!

Did you know that the football coach was once a dancer in a movie? - Go on! Tell me another one!

yeah sure.(1) If someone says, "Yeah, right," they’re not casually telling you you’re right. They’re ironically saying “Not likely.”

Yeah, yeah, sure you tell everybody the same thing.

are you serious / are you kidding me? / are you having a laugh? / yeah, right / no / no way! / for real / go away / bullshit / get out (of here) / get lost / go fuck yourself

yeah, sure.(2) A polite way of say “I don’t give a rat’s ass about this”.

Friend1: Hey, lets go to a movie or a play tonight.  Friend2: yeah sure.

yeah, sure (3) When you’re hanging out with so you really look up to and they ask you if you want to go to a party, play it cool by saying “Yeah, sure,” instead of “Yes! I’d love to!”
You would almost never write “yeah” unless you were trying to mimic the sound of talking.  


how you respond when someone gives you a false compliment/says something out of politeness and you want to let them know you're onto them.
often followed by a) "I really mean it!"
girl 1: OMG you look so fabulous in that dress!
girl 2: aww, hon i know you're just saying that!
girl 1: no babe, i really mean it! 

Meaning intended: not say something seriously, not really mean what you say.
Get out of here! 
 What is the origin (first recorded use) of the slang term "get out of here" to mean "you're kidding" rather than "go away" ?
From a person about to be fired telling a tall tale or making a elaborate excuse to keep his job.
This might have evolved during the stock market crash of the 1920 where jobs were starting to get hard to come by and the country was on its way to it poverty stricken status of the 1930s. The boss might have listened to story after story and told each one to 'get out of here', which might have led to this statement being what it is.
Two people are talking for a while with out knowing each other, and then they fund out they were born in the same town or they went to the same High School.
When they become aware say: Get out of here! 


2. Expressions to show full agreement on sth / for expressing strong agreement.

yeah,yeah, yeah If someone interrupts you while you’re talking and says “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” it means, “I already know that—–get on with it!.”

You're telling me ! I'm well aware of that. I know.

She's a terrific dancer. - You're telling me! I taught her how.

You're telling me the prices are ski-high here (early 1900s)

You (sure) can say that again !

This is so boring! - Yeah, You sure can say that again!


3. Expressions used to show surprise

Fancy that / Imagine that. I am very surprised to hear that. That is hard to imagine or believe


Mary: My father was elected president of the board. 
Sally: Fancy that!

Sue: This computer is ten times faster than the one we had before. Jane: Imagine that! Is it easy to operate? Sue: Of course not.

It wouldn't surprise me! (no me extrañaría)


4. I'm telling you / I tell you

More examples of answers

I never stopped to think about that.

If only I could

"Would you like to order dinner?" Reply: "Bear in mind that I do not speak French."

Are you quite sure it was your brother? Absolutely!

4. Expressions used to show lack of understanding and 
asking for clarification.

Expressing lack of understanding and asking for clarification


I dont know / quite see what you are getting at exactly / by saying that 

Here is a list of useful English phrases you can use to express lack of understanding (that is, when you fail to understand what has been said to you) and seek clarification from the person you are talking to.

How to express lack of understanding

When you fail to understand what has been said to you you can use these expressions:
  • I beg your pardon, but I don't quite understand.
  • I'm not quite sure I know what you mean.
  • I'm not quite sure I follow you.
  • I don't quite see what you mean.
  • I'm not sure I got your point.
  • Sorry, I didn't quite hear what you said.
  • Sorry, I didn't get your point.
  • I don't quite see what you're getting at.

How yo ask for clarification

When you don't understand what someone has said, you can ask for clarification using the following expressions:


 I left work early today.’ ‘How's that? (= Why)?’I think you owe me some money.’ ‘ How come?’ (Why?) I thought her answers didn't make sense.” How so?” (What do you mean?)
  • What do you mean by...?
  • Do you mean...?
  • Could you say that again, please?
  • Could you repeat please?
  • Could you clarify that, please?
  • Would you elaborate on that , please?
  • Could you be more explicit?
  • Could you explain what you mean by...?
  • Could you give us an example?
  • I wonder if you could say that in a different way.
  • Could you put it differently, please?
  • Could you be more specific, please?

5. Clarifying one's point or idea

To clarify your idea you can use the following expressions:
  • Let me explain that...
  • Let me explain that in more detail...
  • Let me put it in another way...
  • Sorry let me explain...
  • In other words...
  • To say this differently...
  • To put it differently...
...

6. Agreeing

 A way of conceding a point, or admitting while you may not agree with someone's opinion, they are entitled to have it.





1. BroA: Dude, why didn't you take that job? The benefits were killer!
BroB: Maybe, but it was so far out, I'd have spent more on gas than what they were willing to pay me.
BroA: Fair enough.

2. American: Personally, I don't like the British, because the British don't like us.
Brit: Fair enough.


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