PERSONAL MATTERS

FEELINGS

272 Asking if someone is all right

Are you OK?

Are you all right?

Are you feeling OK?

Life got you down? (informal)

Are things getting you down?

You look like you lost your best friend. (cliché)

You look like the wind has been taken out of your sails. (idiomatic)

273 Asking why someone looks so unhappy

What’s the matter?

Something got you down?

What’s got you down?

Why are you so blue?

blue = sad

Why is your face so long?

face so long = face so sad

Who rained on your parade? (idiomatic)

rained on your parade = ruined your plans

What rained on your parade? (idiomatic)

Did someone rain on your parade? (idiomatic)

Who burst your bubble? (idiomatic)

= Who ruined your good outlook on life?

274 Offering someone help and advice

Would you like to talk about it?

Need someone to talk to?

If you need someone to talk to, I’m always available.

I’m here if you want to talk about it.

275 Encouraging someone who is unhappy

Cheer up!

Things are never as bad as they seem.

It will (all) work out.

Don’t let it get you down. (idiomatic)

Chin up. (cliché)

Keep your chin up. (cliché)

Things will get better.

Tomorrow is another day. (cliché)

It’s always darkest before dawn. (cliché)

Stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.

There’s no point in carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.

276 When you are depressed

I’m depressed.

I’m ≈ He’s, She’s, They’re, We’re, Tom’s, Jane’s, etc.

I’m feeling low.

I’m feeling down.

I’m feeling blue. (idiomatic)

blue = sad

I’m out of sorts.

I’m in the doldrums.

I’m a little down in the mouth. (idiomatic)

I’m down in the dumps.

= I am depressed.

I’ve been down in the dumps lately.

I can’t put my finger on what’s wrong.

277 Expressing despair and emptiness

My heart is heavy.

My ≈ Her, His, Our, Jane’s, Tom’s, etc.

My heart is broken.

I’m downhearted.

I’m ≈ He’s, She’s, They’re, We’re, Tom’s, Jane’s, etc.

I’m broken-hearted.

I’m heartbroken.

278 When someone looks very happy

You look like you just won the jackpot.

You look like you died and went to heaven.

You’re looking on top of the world.

What’re you smiling about?

279 When someone is very happy — idioms

I’m on Cloud Nine.

I’m = He’s, She’s, They’re, We’re, Tom’s, Jane’s, etc.

I’m in seventh heaven.

I’m walking on air.

I’m on top of the world.

I’m sitting on top of the world.

I’m high on life.

I’m feeling good.

I’m feeling fine.

I’m as merry as the day is long.

I’m happy as can be.

I’m happy as a clam.

I’m as happy as a clam.

I’m as pleased as punch.

I’m beside myself with joy.

I couldn’t be happier.

280 Expressing enthusiasm for life

Things couldn’t be better.

Everything’s coming up roses.

I don’t have a care in the world.

What a great day!

It’s great to be alive!

It feels good just to be alive!

Life’s been good to me.

281 When someone is content

My mind’s at ease.

I’m content.

We’re satisfied.

I’m just going with the flow.

He’s as snug as a bug in a rug.

I’m at peace. (formal)

282 When someone is carefree

I’m footloose and fancy-free. (cliché)

I don’t have a care in the world.

Tom is without a care in the world.

I haven’t a care.

283 When someone is resigned to life as it is

I accept myself for what I am.

I’ve come to terms with myself.

I’ve come to terms with reality.

I’ve come to grips with reality.

I’ve learned to face the music. (idiomatic)

to face the music = to face life; to face reality

Leave well enough alone. (cliché)

Let well enough alone.

Let sleeping dogs lie. (cliché)

= Do not try to solve a problem that is not causing extreme difficulties at the moment.

284 Expressing displeasure with something

That leaves a lot to be desired.

That’s not what I had in mind.

That didn’t fit the bill.

to fit the bill = to be what is needed

That doesn’t quite suit me.

It’s not up to snuff.

up to snuff = up to standard

That’s not what it’s cracked up to be.

cracked up to be = said to be

285 Asking someone to stop being unpleasant

Stop griping.

Stop complaining.

Quit complaining.

Quit whining.

Quit your bitching. (mildly vulgar)

Quit your kvetching. (informal)

kvetching = complaining

Quit your beefing. (slang)

to beef = to complain

Quit your bellyaching. (slang)

to bellyache = to complain

Don’t be such a grouch.

Don’t be such a crab.

a crab = a crabby person = a grouchy person

Don’t be so grouchy.

Don’t be so grumpy.

grumpy = irritable; out of sorts

Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? (idiomatic)

Somebody didn’t get enough sleep.

Stop sulking.

Stop pouting.

286 Dullness and boredom

I’m bored.

I’m bored to tears.

I’m bored to death.

I’m bored to distraction.

I’m bored stiff.

I’m bored silly.

Ho-hum.

Are we having fun yet?

When does the fun start?

That went over like a lead balloon. (idiomatic)

That was a flop.

a flop = a failure

That flopped.

What a yawner.

a yawner = something boring that causes yawns

This is as dull as dishwater. (cliché)

He could go on forever.

He’s like a broken record.

She really wears on me.

Wake me up when it’s over.

I’m sick and tired of this.

I’m fed up.

I need a change of scenery.

I need a change of pace.

287 Dullness in people

Must you harp on the same string?

Must you keep harping on that?

Must you dwell on the subject?

Must you beat a dead horse?

Don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud.

Don’t be such a party pooper. (jocular)

a party pooper = a dull person who ruins parties

Don’t be such a wet blanket. (informal)

a wet blanket = someone who ruins all the fun, as a wet blanket smothers a fire

Don’t be such a killjoy. (informal)

a killjoy = someone who ruins all the fun

288 Excitement in people

She’s the life of the party.

He’s (such) a card.

He’s a kill. (slang)

ANXIETY

289 When you feel out of place

I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I feel like a fish out of water.

I’m out of my element.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. (cliché)

When in Rome. (informal)

290 Expressing anger

I’m so furious.

I’m so mad I could scream.

I’ve never been so mad in my life.

I was chewing nails.

Tom was loaded for bear.

If looks could kill …

291 Expressing fright

I was scared.

I was frightened.

I was terrified.

I was petrified.

I was scared to death.

I was scared silly.

You scared me.

You frightened me.

You scared the hell out of me. (mildly vulgar)

You scared the crap out of me. (mildly vulgar)

You scared the dickens out of me.

You scared the devil out of me.

You scared the wits out of me.

You scared me out of my wits.

You scared me to death.

You scared the daylights out of me.

You scared the living daylights out of me.

You scared the pants off me. (informal)

I almost jumped out of my skin.

I almost lost it.

It gave me the creeps. (slang)

It gave me the willies. (slang)

It made my flesh crawl.

It gave me goose bumps.

It gave me goose pimples.

It curled my hair.

My hair stood on end.

My blood ran cold.

My blood curdled.

It set my teeth on edge.

292 When you do not know what to say

I’m at a loss for words.

I’m speechless.

I’m dumbstruck.

No comment.

I have no response.

I have nothing to say.

I have nothing to add.

I don’t know what to say.

What can I say?

What do you want me to say?

You got me there.

THE SENSES

293 Difficulty in hearing

I’m sorry, I’m hard of hearing.

I’m sorry, I’m hearing-impaired.

He suffered a hearing loss.

He’s stone deaf.

stone = completely

She’s deaf as a post. (informal)

294 Lacking an ear for music

I don’t have an ear for music.

I’m tone-deaf.

He’s got an ear for the piano.

She plays piano by ear.

295 Hearing loud and soft sounds

I can’t hear them; they’re out of earshot.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

That noise is deafening.

That noise assaults the ear. (formal)

That noise is setting my teeth on edge.

What a racket!

racket = noise

Are you trying to wake the dead?

My ears are ringing.

296 Concerning ears or hearing

My plea fell on deaf ears. (cliché)

They turned a deaf ear to our plea. (idiomatic)

There’s none so deaf as those who will not hear. (cliché)

In one ear and out the other. (cliché)

To hear tell, the whole situation was awful.

Boy, did I get an earful.

an earful = a long explanation; a scolding

Prick up your ears! (idiomatic)

Keep your ears open.

Hear no evil. (cliché)

297 The taste of foods

Delicious.

That tastes great.

Tastes great.

That’s as sweet as honey.

That’s as sweet as sugar.

That tastes terrible.

That tastes like chicken.

That turns my stomach.

That’s unfit for human consumption.

298 Offering someone a small portion of food

Would you like a taste?

Here. Try some.

Would you like a sip?

299 Expressing hunger

I’m hungry.

I’m famished.

I’m starved.

I’m ravenous.

My mouth is watering.

That stew is mouth-watering.

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. (cliché)

I could eat a horse. (cliché)

300 Identifying smells

What’s that smell?

What smells?

Do you smell something?

What’s that fragrance?

What’s that aroma?

What’s that scent?

What’s that odor?

What’s that stench?

What stinks? (informal)

Do you smell gas?

Get a whiff of this!

Take a whiff of this.

Sniff this.

That smells.

That smells to high heaven!

That stinks to high heaven! (informal)

It stinks on ice. (slang)

301 Physical responses

That sends shivers down my spine.

It gave me goose bumps.

It gave me the chills.

It gave me butterflies in my stomach. (idiomatic)

302 The sense of touch

It was (as) soft as silk.

It was (as) hard as a rock.

It was (as) hard as stone.

The fish felt slimy.

303 Difficulties with seeing

I’m as blind as a bat. (cliché)

I can’t see a thing without my glasses.

I can’t quite make it out.

304 Concerning good vision

I have good eyesight.

I have excellent vision.

I have 20/20 vision.

I’ve got a good eye for color.

I’ve got an eye for composition.

305 Concerning vision and belief

I can’t believe my eyes.

My eyes betray me. (formal)

Do my eyes deceive me?

There’s none so blind as those who will not see. (cliché)

LOVE AND SEX

306 Asking someone for a date

Are you free Saturday evening?

Are you free Saturday night?

Are you busy on the 15th?

What are you up to this weekend?

What are you doing next weekend?

Would you like to go to dinner?

Would you like to go out to dinner with me?

I was wondering if you’d like to go out.

I was wondering if you’d like to see a movie.

If you’re not doing anything, would you like to go to a party with me?

If you don’t have other plans, would you like to go dancing?

307 Concerning romantic or sexual attraction

He’s really cute.

She’s really attractive.

He’s really my type.

She’s really a doll. (informal)

He’s a real doll. (informal)

She’s a real babe. (informal)

He’s a real looker. (informal)

She’s really gorgeous.

He’s really handsome.

He’s really a stud. (slang)

He’s really a hunk. (slang)

She’s really pretty.

She’s really lovely.

She’s really beautiful.

What a stud. (slang, male only)

What a hunk. (slang, male only)

What a babe.

What a doll.

What a (good-)looker.

What a loser.

What a slut. (rude, female only)

What a bimbo. (slang, female only)

What a geek. (slang, usually male)

308 Professing love

I love you.

I really love you.

I’m falling in love with you.

I’ve fallen in love with you.

I’m in love with you.

I’m madly in love with you.

I’m passionately in love with you.

I’m madly, passionately in love with you.

I love you madly.

I love you passionately.

I love you with all my heart.

I’ve never loved anyone like this before.

I adore you.

I worship you.

I want you.

I need you.

I have to have you.

I’ve got to have you.

I’m yours.

Take me; I’m yours.

Be mine.

Be mine always.

Be my love.

Be my sweetheart.

Be my valentine.

a valentine = a special person on St. Valentine’s day

309 Describing your love or lover

She’s my true love.

He’s my one and only.

She’s the love of my life.

I’m in love.

I’m falling in love.

I’ve fallen in love.

I’m head over heels in love.

I’m madly in love.

I’m passionately in love.

My head is in a cloud.

I’m walking on air.

310 Concerning pregnancy

She’s pregnant.

They’re expecting.

She’s with child. (formal)

She’s in a family way.

There’s a bun in the oven. (slang)

She’s baking bread. (euphemistic)

She got knocked up. (mildly vulgar)

He knocked her up. (mildly vulgar)

Are you expecting (a child)?

When are you due?

It’s due in March.

Who’s the father?

Do you have any names picked out?

Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?

Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?

I’m so happy for you!

311 Sexual expressions

I’m in the mood.

I’m all hot to trot. (slang)

= I am sexually aroused or interested.

I’m really horny. (vulgar)

horny = sexually aroused

I’m horny as hell. (vulgar)

Did you do it?

to do it = to copulate

Did you sleep together?

to sleep together = to copulate

Did you make it?

to make it = to copulate

Did you go all the way?

to go all the way = to copulate

Did you screw? (vulgar)

to screw = to copulate

Did you get any action? (vulgar)

action = sex

Did you score?

score = copulate

It was a one-night stand.

one-night stand = a single night of copulation

It was just a one-nighter.

No strings attached.

I only got to first base.

We didn’t go all the way.

We went all the way.

I scored.

We had sex.

We made love.

We consummated our relationship. (formal)

We had sexual intercourse. (formal)

We had intercourse. (formal)

I knew her in the biblical sense. (formal)

If you can’t be good, be careful.

312 Sexually phrased insults and retorts

Don’t jerk me off. (slang)

Don’t jerk me around. (slang)

Don’t pull my chain. (slang)

Stop pulling my chain. (slang)

Stop jerking me off. (slang)

Bugger off. (slang)

Screw you. (taboo)

313 Turning someone down

I’m not interested.

I’m seeing someone else.

I have other plans.

Something suddenly came up.

I have to wash my hair.

My calendar is full.

You’re not my type.

Not if you were the last man on earth. (rude)

You must be joking. (rude)

I don’t feel up to it.

I have a headache.

Please. (with a disgusted tone of voice)