Here are seven more English phrases used in everyday situations. Don’t forget to read the previous lesson, Everyday English Phrases & Expressions – Part 1!
No hard feelings.
You can say this after someone apologizes to you, to express the fact that you won’t stay angry. This phrase is generally used after apologies for social conflicts that are more serious (or have the potential to be serious) – not small accidents like stepping on someone’s foot.
Situation: Your friend said something rude about you during a conversation with a group of people, and everyone laughed at you. At the time, you felt very embarrassed and angry at your friend. But later, your friend realizes that what he did was wrong, and comes to apologize.
Your friend: I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have made that kind of remark about you, and I feel terrible about it.
You: That’s OK – no hard feelings.
The more the merrier!
You can say this to show that you are happy when more people are going to join in an activity. Many people use this phrase regarding activities in which there might be a limit on the number of people who can participate – so “the more the merrier” expresses the idea that it’s OK if additional people join.
Situation: You’re having a birthday party for your son, and you invited your friend and her daughter. However, your friend’s relatives will be visiting her that weekend, and she wants to ask permission to bring 4 additional children to the party.
Your friend: Is it OK if my nieces and nephews come to your son’s party?
You: Of course – the more the merrier! Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of cake for everyone.
Join the club.
You can say this when another person says something that applies to you too. It is generally used for negative things.
Your friend: I’ve got so much work to do – I’m so stressed out.
You: Join the club.
(= I have a lot of work and am stressed out too.)
No need.
“No need” is simply a short way to say “it’s not necessary.”
Situation: You are planning a ski trip with some friends, and one person doesn’t have their own ski equipment.
Your friend: I’d love to go, but I don’t have any ski equipment
You: Oh, no need – you can rent the equipment at the ski lodge.
Now, where was I? / Now, where were we?
You can say this to get back on topic after a distraction or interruption. “Now, where was I?” is generally said when it is just one person talking (such as during a lecture or presentation). If it is two people who are talking or doing an activity together, you can say “Now, where were we?” After you say this, the other person can remind you about the topic of conversation before the interruption.
Situation: You’re helping your friend install a computer program, and you get a call on your cell phone. You answer the phone and talk for a few minutes. After finishing the call, you can’t remember what part of the installation you were doing before the distraction.
You: Now, where were we?
Your friend: We just installed the software, but we haven’t registered yet.
You: Oh, right. OK, you can click here to start the registration process.
Just my luck!
“Just my luck!” is a sarcastic phrase that expresses especially unfortunate bad luck.
Situation: You have been single for a long time, and you really want to get married. You meet a beautiful, funny, intelligent, successful woman and you start to fall in love with her – but then you find out she is engaged.
You: Just my luck! I finally meet a woman I’m very attracted to, and it turns out she’s taken.
(“taken” = in a relationship with someone else)
Big deal.
This is a sarcastic expression to say that something (especially another person’s accomplishment) is not as important as it seems to be. Don’t use this expression in a professional context – it would be considered rude.
Situation: You and your friend are talking about a classmate who recently got a very high-paying job at a big company.
Your friend: Did you hear that Jeremy got the job at TechCorp? Apparently he’s making $200,000 a year.
You: Big deal. He only got that job because his uncle is vice-president of the company.
