pronoun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
all I want is ...
▪
All I want is a normal life.
As far as I can make out
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As far as I can make out , he has never been married.
As far as I know (= used when you think something is true but are not sure )
▪
As far as I know , they’re arriving on Saturday .
as I mentioned earlier
▪
As I mentioned earlier, it will cost a lot of money.
As I recall
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As I recall , it was you who suggested this idea in the first place.
before I forget (= forget to get it )
▪
Give me your phone number before I forget .
Can I offer you
▪
Can I offer you something to drink?
can/may I suggest (= used to politely suggest a different idea )
▪
May I suggest that you think carefully before rushing into this?
Could I interest you in a drink/dessert etc? (= used as a polite way of offering someone a drink etc )
(do you) know what I mean? (= used to ask if someone understands or has the same feeling as you )
▪
It’s nice to have a change sometimes. Know what I mean?
do/if you know/see what I mean? spoken (= used to check that someone understands you )
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I want to buy her something really special, if you know what I mean.
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We’re still married but living apart in the same house, if you see what I mean.
from what I can gather/as far as I can gather (= this is what I believe to be true )
▪
She’s his niece, from what I can gather.
from what I can gather/as far as I can gather (= this is what I believe to be true )
▪
She’s his niece, from what I can gather.
how shall I/we put it? (= used before saying something in an indirect or polite way )
▪
Mr Lewis is now – how shall we put it? – hardly the influence he once was.
I appreciate your offer (= I am grateful for it - used especially when politely refusing someone's offer )
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I appreciate your offer, but I don’t need any help.
I beg of you formal (= please )
▪
Listen, I beg of you.
I can assure you
▪
The document is genuine, I can assure you .
I can take a hint (= used when you understand someone's hint )
▪
All right, I can take a hint. I'm leaving.
I can truly say
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I can truly say I’ve never enjoyed myself so much.
I could use a laugh (= I want to hear something funny to cheer me up )
▪
Tell me what she said - I could use a laugh.
I couldn’t eat another thing spoken (= used to say that you are completely full )
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Thanks, that was lovely, but I couldn’t eat another thing.
I dare you
▪
So jump, then. I dare you .
I don’t care
▪
‘He looked angry.’ ‘ I don’t care !’
I don’t mind admitting sth
▪
I’m scared and I don’t mind admitting it.
I don’t wonder British English (= I am not surprised )
▪
I don’t wonder you’re tired.
I doubt it (= I don’t think so )
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‘Do you think there’ll be any tickets left?’ ‘ I doubt it .’
I dread to think (= I think it will be very bad )
▪
I dread to think what will happen if they get elected .
I dread/hate/shudder to think (= I do not want to think about something bad )
▪
I dread to think what might have happened if we hadn’t found her.
I fear so/I fear not
▪
‘Were they satisfied?’ ‘I fear not.’
I fear so/I fear not
▪
‘Were they satisfied?’ ‘I fear not.’
I forget the name/details etc
▪
I forget the name of the street, but it’s the first on the left.
I grant you
▪
He’s got talent, I grant you , but he doesn’t work hard enough.
I hasten to add (= used to explain more about what you have just said )
▪
I was refused accommodation – not, I hasten to add , on account of my appearance .
I hate to admit it but …
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I hate to admit it but it looks like we’ve failed.
I hate to be a nuisance .../Sorry to be a nuisance ...
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I hate to be a nuisance, but could you move your car to the other side of the street?
I have a horrible feeling that
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I have a horrible feeling that we’re going to miss the plane.
I (have to/must) confess (= used when admitting something you feel slightly embarrassed about )
▪
I must confess I don’t visit my parents as often as I should.
I hear what you say/what you’re saying spoken (= used to tell someone that you have listened to their opinion, but do not agree with it )
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I hear what you say, but I don’t think we should rush this decision.
I hope to God
▪
I hope to God I haven’t left the car window open.
I hope you don’t mind
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I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why are you moving?
I know what you mean (= I understand, because I have had the same experience )
▪
‘I just felt so tired.' ‘Yeah, I know what you mean .’.
I know what you mean (= used to say you understand and have had the same experience )
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‘I didn’t really like him.’ ' I know what you mean , I didn’t get on with him either .
I might add (= used to comment on what you have just said )
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She was trying to entertain us – unsuccessfully, I might add .
I must admit sth (= used when saying that you admit that something is true )
▪
I must admit I hate camping.
I object (= used in formal arguments, for example in a court of law )
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Mr Chairman, I object. That is an unfair allegation.
I owe you one (= used to thank someone who has helped you, and to say that you are willing to help them in the future )
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Thanks a lot for being so understanding about all this – I owe you one !
I presume so
▪
‘Are his parents still alive?’ ' I presume so .’
I quite agree/I couldn’t agree more (= I agree completely )
▪
‘We have to talk.’ ‘Absolutely,’ Meredith replied. ‘I couldn’t agree more.’
I quite agree/I couldn’t agree more (= I agree completely )
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‘We have to talk.’ ‘Absolutely,’ Meredith replied. ‘I couldn’t agree more.’
I see what you mean (= I understand what you are trying to say )
▪
Oh yeah! I see what you mean .
I see (= I understand )
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‘He lives here but works in London during the week.’ ‘Oh, I see .’
I should...if I were you
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I should stay in bed if I were you .
I should...if I were you
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I should stay in bed if I were you .
I shouldn’t wonder British English (= I would not be surprised about something )
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He’ll come back soon enough, I shouldn’t wonder.
I suppose so
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‘Can we come with you?’ ‘Oh, I suppose so .’
I suppose so
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‘Aren’t you pleased?’ ‘Yes, I suppose so .’
I suspect
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She’s not going to be very happy about this, I suspect .
I take it (= I assume )
▪
I take it you’ve heard that Rick’s resigned.
I take your point/point taken (= used to say that you accept someone’s opinion )
I was forgetting ... (= said when you have just remembered or been reminded about something ) spoken
▪
Oh yes, I was forgetting she was pregnant.
I wish...would
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I wish they would come and visit us.
I wonder
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What are they going to do now, I wonder ?
I would...if I were you
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I would talk to the doctor if I were you .
I would...if I were you
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I would talk to the doctor if I were you .
I'm a Celebrity ... Get me Out of Here!
if I had known/if I’d have known
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I wouldn’t have come if I’d known you were so busy.
if I remember rightly
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This photo was taken in Paris, if I remember rightly .
if you know what I mean
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Sometimes it’s better not to ask too many questions, if you know what I mean.
knowing sb/if I know sb (= used to say that you expect someone to behave in a particular way because you know them well )
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Knowing Sumi, my note’s probably still in her pocket.
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He’ll be chatting up the women, if I know Ron!
more...than I care to remember (= a lot of them )
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I’ve experienced more reorganizations than I care to remember .
not that I care (= I do not care )
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Sarah has a new boyfriend – not that I care .
so do I/so is he/so would Peter etc
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Joe was a little upset, and so was I.
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He’s been ill, and so has his wife.
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As the demand rises, so do prices.
so I hear/so I’ve heard spoken (= used to say that you have been told something or know it already )
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There’s a nasty infection going round, so I hear.
So I see
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‘Look – I’ve even cleaned the windows.’ ‘ So I see .’
Well I never!
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Well I never! I wouldn’t have thought she was that old!
What I mean is (= used to explain more about what you have said )
▪
What I mean is , I don’t feel alone anymore.
what I want to do is ...
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What I want to do is develop the skills I already have.
When I was young
▪
When I was young , I wanted to be a model.
World War I/World War II
▪
He was a pilot in World War II.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(I'll be/I'm) damned if ...
(I'm) just looking
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"Do you need help with anything?" "No thanks. We're just looking ."
(I'm) much obliged (to you)
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Madam Deputy Speaker: I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman.
(I'm) pleased to meet you
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A forty-year-old actor with great presence warmly shakes William's hand Male lead Pleased to meet you.
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However, Mrs Singh was pleased to meet her and generally liked all the teachers and what she saw.
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I am so pleased to meet you.
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We would be very pleased to meet you and feel sure that we can offer you an interesting and worthwhile programme.
(I) don't mind if I do
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"Would you like another piece of cake?" "Thanks - don't mind if I do."
(I) must dash/(I) have to dash
(I) must fly
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As a scheduled operator, Virgin must fly its 400-seat jumbos even if there are only a handful of passengers on board.
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He is expected eventually to rule that the Union flag must fly , and he called the row unnecessary.
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If Jerba was picturesque, Nefta is magical and I regret that I must fly home in a week.
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Second, it must fly swiftly away from the nest and alight some distance from it.
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To keep your pilot's licence you must fly 5 hours each year minimum.
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What is more, it is able to tell others what direction they must fly in order to get food themselves.
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With me on his back he must fly down to the Gruncher.
(I) quote
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I believe I quote from the minutes of our inaugural meeting.
▪
It offers an escape from the double bind of commentary pithily summarised by Foucault, in the passage I quoted just now.
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May I quote you or your company or do you prefer total anonymity? 2.
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The edition of his book I quote from here was published a hundred years ago in 1891.
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Whose responsibility is this? I quote it to the Head whenever suitable occasions arise.
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Your coverage has kept the Western Mail ahead of all other papers. I quote the letter not from any feelings of conceit.
(I) tell a lie
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For one thing, telling a lie is like eating peanuts.
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However, telling lies to the police is assisting in the retention of stolen goods: Kanwar, above.
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No, I tell a lie .
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They fight viciously and tell lies to get each other into trouble.
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We can not tell a lie , so we confessed we were getting way too many.
(I/you/he etc) can't complain
(no) I never!
(now I) come to think of it
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But now that she came to think of it she had never been out to any sort of meal with John.
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Come to think of it, Columbia wouldn't have been around if it hadn't been for the blues.
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Come to think of it, even Hillary Rodham Clinton could learn something from Alexander about how to invest her money.
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Come to think of it, he'd seemed rather a decent chap, some one it might be worth getting to know.
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Come to think of it, they might want to hang on to those packing crates.
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So did Mom, come to think of it.
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You never know, come to think of it.
I (only) wish I knew
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And I wish I knew why.
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But being so weak seems wrong now too. I wish I knew judo.
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Don't ask me what I do want. I wish I knew.
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He was a sad person underneath. I wish I knew what he was so sad about.
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I do know that it was because of an argument that he left. I wish I knew more.
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I won't listen to you any more. I wish I knew what time it was.
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Men clustered and chattered lively in groups. I wished I knew how to smoke.
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Very grand. I wish I knew where it is now.
I am not sb's keeper
▪
I'm not Janey's keeper .
I am/he is/you are etc too!
I beg to differ
▪
Selling some of course. I beg to differ.
▪
Well having discussed this matter with many typical users of word processors, I beg to differ.
I beg to differ
▪
Selling some of course. I beg to differ .
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Well having discussed this matter with many typical users of word processors, I beg to differ .
I beg your pardon
▪
"And the year of your birth?" "I beg your pardon?" "When were you born?"
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"East Coast people are kind of uptight, aren't they?" "I beg your pardon!"
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"That's my pen." "Oh, I beg your pardon - I thought it was mine.''
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Oh, I beg your pardon. Are you all right?
I bet/I'll bet
▪
Come and sit down, I bet you're exhausted.
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He'll be really pleased to see you, I bet !
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I bet she hasn't told her parents about this.
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I bet that the meeting will be cancelled again.
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I bet you're tired after such a long journey.
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Ever since he got ill - for nearly a week, I bet .
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Jealous of her. I bet it really got him going seeing my little pink dimples bobbing up and down there.
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My dentist would laugh at me, I bet .
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P.S. I bet you won't print this.
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Why, I bet you never had the slightest intention of following through last night, did you?
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Yes, there was something in there and I bet myself it would be Jo's emerald pendant.
I can only think/suppose/assume (that)
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As for an Iguana Air, I can only assume it's a tropical airline.
▪
Now if I can only think of their name.
I can tell you/I'm telling you
I can't be doing with sth
I can't be fagged
I can't promise (anything)
I can't rightly say/don't rightly know
I can't say (that)
I can't tell you
▪
"So is Maggie really pregnant?" "I can't tell you."
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I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help.
I can't work sb out
I could eat a horse
I could have wept
▪
Without knowing what he'd got. I could have wept thinking what I'd missed.
I could murder a beer/pizza etc
I could/would go for sth
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I could really go for a taco right now.
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But at first I would go for a holiday.
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You always told me that if I worked hard, one day, I would go for Secondary.
I couldn't
I couldn't help myself/she couldn't help herself etc
I couldn't put it down
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It's such a good book that I couldn't put it down.
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What an amazing book! I just couldn't put it down.
I couldn't say
I couldn't tell you
▪
"Is it going to rain tomorrow?" "I couldn't tell you."
I couldn't wish for a nicer/better etc ...
I dare say
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I dare say things will improve.
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Although it was correct, I dare say, and he no doubt intended it as a mark of respect.
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His mouth twitches almost imperceptibly. I dare say that mine, under the cover of my beard, twitches faintly back.
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There's lots of things that ought, I dare say.
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They're all these chemical things now - I dare say they're just as good really.
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They sang in perfect harmony, although I dare say Alex Ferguson will complain about the pitch.
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Were it not fur her, I dare say Edward Plantagenet would long since have succumbed to ennui and despair.
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What Miguel says goes around here, I dare say.
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You understand not - how could you? I dare say you never will.
I defy sb to do sth
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Derbyshire folk may query the authenticity of this but I defy them not to enjoy the results.
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Willing my heart to beat normally, I defy the urge to turn back or freeze or cry out.
I do so/it is so etc
I don't blame you/you can hardly blame him etc
I don't envy you/her etc
I don't feel too hot/so hot/very hot
I don't know
▪
"I couldn't live there.'' "Oh, I don't know . It might not be so bad.''
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"Where's the nearest restroom?" "I don't know ."
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Oh, I don't know , we could meet at 3 or 4 o'clock.
I don't know about you, but ...
I don't know how to thank you/repay you
I don't know how/why etc
I don't mind admitting/telling you/saying etc
I don't see why not
▪
"Are you sure they'll let us walk on their land?" "I don't see why not."
I don't suppose (that)
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I don't suppose the painting will ever be worth a thousand dollars.
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I don't suppose you'd be willing to go get the napkins?
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I don't suppose you have any idea where my address book is, do you?
I don't want to sound/be ..., but ...
I don't wish to interfere/be nosy etc
I expect
▪
Hasn't Tony arrived yet? He'll be here soon, I expect .
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I expect you're right.
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I expect your mother will be overjoyed when she hears you're having a baby.
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But I expect it is the effects of expatriation.
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But this team surprises me. I expect us to go out and play well.
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Gosh darn it, I expected it to be done.
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I had not asked him for anything, nor had I expected anything.
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We had a sort of poet in this house once. I expect you'd think nothing to her.
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When I opened the frame I found, as I expected , that the drawing had been hinged with masking tape.
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With these memories, I expected Galway City, my destination, to be a hopeless, broken-down kind of place.
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Yes, I expect you did have to give a lot for your house.
I fail to see/understand
▪
I fail to see the humor in this situation.
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How presumptuous my claims to knowledge based only on what I see, leaving out what I fail to see.
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However I fail to see firstly what you are trying to prove with your figures.
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Last year? I failed to see the connection.
I fear
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An honorable death seemed far better than the life I feared .
▪
But what was it that I feared losing?
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Every day that passed while Jean-Claude was away I became increasingly disorientated. I feared I was going mad.
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How strange, I feared death less than I did the cold water.
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It would be nice if the two approaches met, but I fear this is true only in the simplest cases.
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Lastly, I fear I may have to disappoint you when I say that the coin is more interesting than valuable.
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We are, I fear , in danger of becoming extinct.
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What I fear for my people is milk in which the devil lurks between the froth and the cream.
I forget
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How old is Kristen again? I forget .
▪
You know that guy we met last week - I forget his name.
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A head of lettuce, a couple of potatoes, I forget what else.
▪
And never shall I forget those whispered words.
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Even I forgot to note it.
▪
I suddenly realise I haven't remembered the others for hours. I forgot their supper yesterday.
▪
Will I forget how to speak to the audience?
▪
Yes, when I get through talking to this Yes, listen a couple of things I thought about before I forget .
I give it six weeks/a month etc
I give you the chairman/prime minister/groom etc
I guess
▪
"Is the truck safe to drive now?" "I guess so."
▪
His light's on, so I guess he's still up.
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I guess his dad had to work two jobs when they were little.
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I guess I'll stay home tonight.
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I guess this is the best way to do it.
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Rob just got tired of living with her, I guess .
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They live somewhere between Saginaw and Lansing, I guess .
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From the shape of its lights I guessed it was one of the small Peugeots.
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I guess how each one I guess.
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I am weary. I guess you read one porno magazine and the second one is just the same.
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I did not know the name, but I guessed at once who she was.
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Slim was gone-to Montana, I guess .
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Well fifteen, half an hour and then a break, I guess .
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You could add something about the hurricane, I guess .
I guess so/not
▪
"She wasn't happy?" "I guess not."
▪
Dope, is it? I guess so.
I hasten to add
▪
I have, I hasten to add, no precise statistics on hand.
▪
Many of them built up vast fortunes under my father's regime, illegal fortunes, I hasten to add.
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Metaphorically speaking, I hasten to add.
▪
Not me, I hasten to add.
▪
Not, I hasten to add, on account of my sweaty demeanour.
▪
Not, I hasten to add, through fraud but through an error in part of the model.
▪
This wasn't me, I hasten to add, but the pill, which was based on belladonna.
I hate to ask/interrupt/disturb etc
▪
Martin I hate to disturb you when you're cooking the books, but there's a delivery.
I hate to say it, but .../I hate to tell you this, but ...
I hate to think what/how/where etc
▪
But take care of them, darling. I hate to think what we'd do if they had to be replaced.
I have it on good authority
▪
I have it on good authority that the school board wants to fire the principal.
I have to say/admit/confess
▪
I have to say I don't know anything about computers.
▪
At this point I have to say he was, from an early age, exceedingly theatrical.
▪
He did not, I have to say, look at all pleased.
▪
He looked, I have to say, absolutely great.
▪
I am rather shaken, I have to confess.
▪
I shall say yes, she was thinking. I have to say yes.
▪
If you find that what I have to say about the specialisation is difficult, don't worry.
▪
Looking through Woodworker I have to say that many of the chairs are anything but comfortable!
▪
None of us slept very easily, I have to say.
I hope (that)
▪
I am embarking on a number of projects which I hope to be of interest to fellow treasure hunters.
▪
Like most artists, I hope to give shape to a reality that often seems wilfully chaotic.
▪
Oh, dear, I hope he won't go off here!
▪
One day soon, perhaps. I hope I get a chance to read it, says Blue.
▪
So I hope that that lie will never be preached again.
I hope not
▪
"Do you think she's lost?" "I hope not!"
▪
"I promise I won't do it again." "I certainly hope not," replied her mother.
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"Will it rain any more?" "I hope not."
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A: I hope not a siege.
▪
I hope not because Britain is essentially a decent place to take refuge and find acceptance.
▪
I hope not, because I can't see it myself.
▪
I confess that I hoped not.
▪
My constituents who are in prison - I hope not for too long - are becoming increasingly disaffected.
▪
Naturally I hope not, and the probability is that we're exercising ourselves over nothing.
▪
Red for good luck, and I hoped not for blood.
I hope so
▪
"So you're going to the Amazon?" "I hope so."
▪
I thought so. I hoped so.
▪
Right. I hope so, yeah.
▪
Was it worth it? I hope so.
▪
Will he get the chance to step up? I hope so.
I just wanted to say/know etc
▪
I asked them, and this is what they told me. I just wanted to know did you know any more.
▪
In the ambulance, I just wanted to know the damage.
▪
The truth of it was, as miserable as things were, I just wanted to say I had been there.
I kid you not
▪
I manage to earwig a conversation between, and I kid you not, two members of Napalm Death.
▪
It really was scary - I kid you not.
▪
Of jaundiced varnish, wood-smoke, grease, candle-wax, cigarette smoke and fly-shit. I kid you not.
I know
▪
"It is really hot out there today." "I know . It's miserable."
▪
I know ! Let's turn the couch this way and then the table will fit.
▪
I know , I know, we should have called and made reservations.
▪
All I know is that I am on my way out.
▪
And I know what you're thinking.
▪
I know the why of this, but I know it only now as I write these words.
▪
My two chips were ready in my sweaty palm. I knew I had him on toast.
▪
No Francis, anywhere. I knew I was alone now.
▪
No one, as far as I know , has ever before cut away the wing of a submerged big jet.
I know (just/exactly) how you feel
▪
I have a sudden urge to touch her, to hold her, to tell her I know how she feels .
▪
I knew how he felt about me -- a short blind boy who hated leather basketballs.
▪
I know how he feels about me!
▪
I know how you feel about it ... You would rather wait - wait till we're married.
▪
I know how you feel , Doyle thought.
▪
I know how you feel , they're all or nothing.
▪
You ran a decent campaign, John, and I know how it feels to lose.
I know the feeling
▪
"She makes me so mad I could scream!" "I know the feeling ."
I like that!
I love it!
▪
"So then Susan had to explain how the dishes got broken." "Oh, I love it!"
I mean
▪
I'm afraid I can't help you. What I mean is that I'm not a detective, and I don't solve crimes.
▪
I mean , he was nice and everything, but I just didn't find him attractive.
▪
I just bought some apricots, no, I mean peaches.
▪
My father was a heavy drinker, I mean , he used to drink a quart of scotch a day.
▪
Ted seems kind of lazy. I mean , he never offers to help and he just lies in front of the TV.
▪
I was never a political animal. I mean the Journalists had that sort of job to do.
▪
I, I mean I need it.
▪
If there is a next time I mean to win.
▪
So she said OEAll right, sir. I mean Charles.
▪
Very few people have a career of great longevity, constancy and consistency in films. I mean a real career.
▪
What is she, I mean , she knows it turns me on.
I mean to say
▪
Good ... Dorothy, I meant to say on Sunday how wonderful the flowers looked.
▪
Really, I mean to say, Stevens.
▪
Well the first main stop light you hit I guess is what I mean to say.
▪
Well, I mean to say, I've got total admiration for the way you chaps work.
I might have known/guessed etc
▪
All those years I might have known her!
▪
Although I might have known you'd arrive just as drinks were being ordered!
▪
Dear little Papa, as I might have known!
▪
If you'd had a big fat bottom I might have guessed.
▪
It was nothing I might have guessed.
▪
Of course, I might have known that you'd have some clever way of dealing with everything, though.
▪
Ooh! I might have known it!
▪
Some years before, I might have guessed Bond's enigmatic presence in the scene.
I might say/add
▪
And battling it gracefully, I might add, wielding his mighty pen like a sword.
▪
Hair: grey and losing it, I might add.
▪
In passing, I might say how extraordinarily lucky I am to have them here with me.
▪
Likewise. I might add a little oregano, garlic, onions, salt, and butter once in a while.
▪
None of which has been answered yet, I might add.
▪
Very expensive method too I might add.
▪
Yes, they have decided to reinstate you, over my violent objections, I might add.
I must admit/say/confess
▪
At this point I must say that I haven't yet found a carp that didn't eat Tropicanas.
▪
But I must say I was deeply disappointed.
▪
But I must say she's not always as fractious as she appears now.
▪
He went very red in the face. I must say he never did it again.
▪
Lovely site for it, I must say.
▪
Some one must have brought it here for a purpose, but I must admit it looks abandoned.
▪
They were very polite, I must confess.....
▪
This procedure is, I must admit, a limited one, and it is vulnerable to criticism.
I must say
▪
And first I must say why I need to make this digression.
▪
And I must say , on what I see, your methods seem to work well.
▪
I was pleased to find out, I must say .
▪
Tell me more of it ... I must say my thoughts to you.
▪
The first day of my trip is now completed, and all in all, I must say I am quite satisfied.
▪
Though, I must say , mediocrity never looked better.
▪
When I did find out what he was thinking, I must say I was surprised.
I must/I'd better be getting along
I nearly died/I could have died
I nearly/almost fainted
▪
She wrote: I almost fainted when I read your letter, confronted by that terrible mistake I had made.
▪
These were removed and - oh, sweet Lord, I nearly fainted !
I need hardly say/tell/remind etc
▪
Birds have never been one of my major interests, I need hardly say.
▪
How I welcomed Night Duty, I need hardly say.
▪
I need hardly say how heartily I sympathize with the purposes of the Audubon Society.
▪
I need hardly say that I don't care to have things so.
▪
I need hardly say that my wife's first impression of Lewis differed somewhat from my own.
▪
Mr Bawn, I need hardly tell you, is a man of considerable dignity and I would not leave him here.
▪
Type 4 I need hardly say how glad I am.
I never knew (that)
▪
I never knew you played the guitar!
▪
And I never knew he took my advice about Eliot so seriously.
▪
As I once told you, I never knew where we were heading when I first drove out the Anacreonians.
▪
But I never knew from one week to the next if there would be any money.
▪
I sort of dabble my foot in it like it's a puddle. I never knew Marie was married.
▪
I was brought up in a pit village near Bishop Auckland and I never knew my father.
▪
Those men have to stand that over and over again. I never knew it was like that.
▪
You and your father. I never knew two people more alike.
▪
You said they stole your milk. I never knew what it was that messed him up.
I only wish/hope
▪
I only wish I knew what I could do to help.
▪
And I only wish the world had a sense of the glamour like we had in the Sixties.
▪
At present I only wish to draw attention to a possible ambiguity in a crucial move.
▪
Exhibit A in defense of the caveman. I only wish Becker had taken questions from the audience.
▪
I am sorry your life is so burdensome, I only wish I could help in some way.
▪
I enjoyed the whole of the Chuck Berry interview - I only wish we'd had longer.
▪
It's a great honour and I only hope and pray I won't let Monsieur down.
▪
It will suit Mrs Rochester perfectly. I only wish I were more handsome, as she's so beautiful.
▪
They were all very heartened that some one was at last taking an interest: I only wish I had had a tape recorder!
I ought to know
▪
"Are you sure there's no salt in it?" "Of course. I ought to know , I made it."
▪
But if it meant this I ought to know it.
▪
Christmas is coming and he thinks I ought to know about some little joints called Tiffany's and Bloomingdale's.
▪
I've had nine, so I ought to know .
I promise you
▪
And I promise you something: I won't let the house get into a hovel.
▪
But I promise I won't be bad to you again.
▪
It takes more than a few days but it goes again, just about. I promise you that.
▪
It will only turn her to stone, I promise you.
▪
There will, I promise you, be a final exam.
▪
We will find that ship, I promise you.
▪
When we parted I promised I'd write about them.
▪
You shall not be the losers by it, I promise you.
I rest my case
▪
And was his name mentioned anywhere this week following Dublin's defeat? I rest my case.
▪
Industry and nature in harmony? I rest my case.
▪
It is a proven fact, however, that prolonged high altitude reduces intelligence. I rest my case.
▪
Now how many carbons? I rest my case.
▪
Should anyone remain unconvinced, I rest my case on the Leaning Tower of Pisa syndrome.
▪
These others stand on something they said. I rest my case on what I did.
▪
Well I rest my case on that one.
I say
▪
But as I said at the outset there wasn't much in this edition that failed to please me.
▪
Can I say on behalf of this body that we are genuinely sorry to see you go.
▪
Girl, look, I say go for it.
▪
I am sure being a headmaster did affect his ideas on child-rearing, but as I said , we were very happy.
▪
I went off so often Frank began to notice and I said the heat made me restless.
▪
Mohibullah said that young Imran wanted to play me after I'd played Jansher. I said that would be fine.
▪
You know very well I said no alcohol!
I should have thought ...
▪
And marriage, I should have thought , is a false step you must have been well warned against.
▪
Any leader, I should have thought , would have demanded loyalty and support from a vice-president as a basic minimum.
▪
It's very important to me - and, I should have thought , to you too.
▪
She's a pretty child, but hardly his intellectual level, I should have thought .
▪
That is rather obvious, I should have thought .
▪
The royal crest is used on the front of the annual report, which I should have thought was improper.
▪
The scent of the tea as I poured it ... I should have thought .
▪
This seems an odd argument for smoking to me and, I should have thought , to smokers, too.
I should hope so (too)
I should think/imagine/hope
▪
He said there might be one way, you know, I should think about it.
▪
I wouldn't mind. I should think he'd be very demanding.
▪
Interesting, I should think, with a name like Hamish.
▪
Look at my dad. I should think he's got half his lunch down his.
▪
Looking forward to getting back to your farm, I should think?
▪
Not for far, I should think - not if its nose has gone.
▪
Rather like seizure, I should imagine.
I shudder to think
▪
I shudder to think what will happen to him now.
▪
I never know how carefully. I shudder to think.
▪
I regularly see them sent out alone on shopping errands. I shudder to think what might happen on their way home.
▪
Palestrina! I shudder to think what I should do when her next social invitation arrives in the letter box!
I stand corrected
▪
"It's a moose, not an elephant, Dad!" "Well, I stand corrected ."
▪
Oh, well, I stand corrected , ladies.
I stand corrected
▪
Oh, well, I stand corrected, ladies.
I suppose
▪
"Is Bill coming too?" "I suppose so."
▪
"The kids will love it, don't you think?" "I suppose ."
▪
"Will the children be disappointed?" "Yes, I suppose so."
▪
Having a burglar alarm makes you feel safer, I suppose .
▪
I suppose that they'll do some sightseeing while they're here.
▪
I suppose we can pay by credit card but we'd better check first.
▪
There was no reply when I phoned - I suppose she's still at work.
▪
And they say, Well, yes, I suppose so.
▪
I have been on at Desmond about it, as a matter of fact, which I suppose is what she wanted.
▪
In the beginning he would always win and then one day, inevitably I suppose , I beat him.
▪
It is I suppose an ordinary willow.
▪
It starts, I suppose , with my first meeting Steve and ends some months later with another chance encounter.
▪
It was a relief, I suppose .
▪
Uncle's gone doolally again. I suppose that's what happens when you get old.
I swear/hope/wish/pray to God
I take my hat off to sb
▪
I take my hat off to those front row men.
▪
Jan starts hers at four, for which I take my hat off to her.
▪
Whatever it was though, I take my hat off to Babs.
I think
▪
"Is Matthew still here?" "I think so -- I've just seen him".
▪
"Will Jenny be at the meeting?" "I would think so."
▪
I think he used to be an accountant.
▪
I think the dog must have eaten it.
▪
I think you're right.
▪
She'll be here about 9, I think .
▪
At first she kept passing out and she was sick. I thought oh no, she's gone on to a vegan diet.
▪
I always thought I would coach one day and I think I would be good at it.
▪
It must have been February by then, and for the next month or so I thought of little else but sabotage.
▪
It was totally unexpected in terms of age and experience then. I think people of 16 today are far mature.
▪
The more I thought about it, the more I realized I was wrong.
▪
There were two ways in which I thought the Reading Teacher would unknowingly but consistently reveal the existence of that line.
▪
To tell the truth, I think he's pretty lonely on account of his wife and that.
▪
When I think what I've done for that boy.
I think I'll ...
I think not
▪
As to any woman being suitable for Ana's needs, I think not.
▪
Could I have been dreaming? I think not as four other unsolicited accounts verified my experience.
▪
Is there something about me that attracts sexually abused women? I think not.
▪
Perhaps he greets all ladies as he greeted me, but I think not.
▪
Reagan, tight-lipped, replied, I think not.
▪
So will closing these hospitals improve acute care? I think not.
▪
The last nagging question is would we be so obsessed with the Simpson case if Nicole were black? I think not.
▪
Unless they have been locked away for the past two years, I think not.
I thought (that)
▪
I thought the dishwasher was broken, did you get it fixed?
▪
I thought we could go to the lake this weekend.
▪
He has to be held accountable, just like everyone else. I thought something was going to happen.
▪
I began throwing punches whenever I thought no one was looking.
▪
I had an extremely mature view about these proceedings. I thought that Victoria Lum was a super wupo.
▪
In fact, I thought living by a highway made me special.
▪
Now that I was alone I thought bitterly of the people I lived with.
▪
The drive is spectacular: gorges and tropical rain forests and waterfalls on every hand, but I thought only of Poppy.
▪
When the band became serious, I thought this is a far more contemporary and interesting way to make an artistic statement.
I thought as much
▪
"Andy failed his driving test." "I thought as much when I saw his face."
▪
I must confess I felt a trifle guilty about your lonely watch: nothing to report? I thought as much.
I told you so
▪
I could never work with a man like that and I told him so.
▪
I didn't like his mood. I told her so, but she just laughed.
▪
I was not disappointed. I told myself so, firmly, several times.
▪
I wouldn't have blamed him if he'd walked away and I told him so.
▪
There; I told you so.
▪
To sum up: I told you so.
▪
True it is that Ewan Beg thought he had killed his dallta - for I told him so.
▪
What matters is that we lived like writers, and that I told them so.
I trust (that)
▪
I trust that you will seriously consider my offer.
▪
Because of my inexperience in the business, I trusted people to make decisions that I should have made.
▪
Do I trust the Lord on this one?
▪
Incidentally, I trust that the fretwire used is up to scratch.
▪
Since I trust my own sense of fantasy, I find it no problem to ignore anything with the Disney logo.
▪
You're thinking, can I trust Shih Karr?
I vote ...
▪
But will I vote for him?
▪
Come November-ish time, the situation seemed rather less pressing, and I voted for no change.
▪
Despite the above, I voted for Labour although its victory would have hit my pocket.
▪
Gee, can I vote in Gilbert?
▪
Like many another newly enfranchised 18-year-olds, I voted Conservative in 1979.
▪
That doesn't mean I vote the full Griffith ticket.
I was wondering if/whether
▪
I was wondering if you could babysit tomorrow night.
▪
We were wondering if you'd like to come with us.
▪
Actually, I was wondering if I could paint the room?
▪
I guess I was wondering if people would still call me a hippie if I cut my hair off, you know.
▪
Next weekend. I was wondering if you fancied coming along for the ride.
▪
We were finally talking about bodies. I was wondering whether he would ever make a move.
I wasn't born yesterday
▪
You can't expect me to trust you after all the other promises you've broken, you know. I wasn't born yesterday.
I wasn't thinking
▪
Sorry, I wasn't thinking . Do you want a cup too?
I wish (that) sb would do sth
▪
I wish he would go away.
▪
I wish he would stop this.
▪
I wish Masklin would come back.
▪
I wish my friends would take that to heart.
▪
I wish they would continue to play at the Forum.
▪
I wished the Admiral would switch on the lights.
▪
I thought I was gon na die and-I hate to admit it-sometimes I wished I would.
▪
They are different from the views that he is saying are ours, and I wish that he would retract that.
I wish!
I wonder if/whether
▪
I wonder if you could help me.
▪
For a few days I wondered if it could be used mysteriously in some odd and wonderful crepe batter.
▪
I didn't tell you this the other day when I made you all laugh. I wonder whether I am odd.
▪
I let a moment pass. I wondered if I could just shut up and let the subject die.
▪
I was beginning to enjoy the game. I wondered if she was enjoying it too.
▪
In fact, I wonder if, ethically, we should even be asking people to organize.
▪
It was by now that and I wondered whether chilli had been a good choice for a hot meal.
▪
Mind you, I wonder if, at their age, they realise that kippers are smoked herrings.
▪
Mr. Howard I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman is citing Lambeth council as a model of efficiency and good practice.
I would be glad if
I would be grateful if you could/would ...
▪
I would be grateful if you could tell me anything about the guitar.
▪
I would be grateful if you could tell me where I can get hold of such posters.
▪
I would be grateful if you would examine Exhibit A. Do you recognise it?
▪
If you will be attending the site visit, I would be grateful if you could complete the tear-off slip below.
▪
This will take place at the above address on and I would be grateful if you could attend at.
I would prefer it if
▪
I'd prefer it if you would not insult my friends.
▪
I would prefer it if we had a bigger house, but we can't afford it.
I would say
▪
After the experience of working on this table I would say that this is absolute rot.
▪
And exactly this, I would say , is the difference between a gospel of war and one of peace.
▪
As far as filmmaking is concerned, I would say the future is his.
▪
Finally, I would say that in a show of sixty-four artists it is astonishing that there are only five women.
▪
I could never come to the situation where I would say we're all equal.
▪
Offhand, I would say a company director.
▪
Well organized, a nice grasp of social interplay. I would say a good beginning.
I would think
▪
"Will you have finished work by 6.30?'' "Oh yes, I should think so.''
▪
I should think Sarah and Greg will be going to the party.
▪
I would think that she would get tired of cleaning up the house every day.
▪
It'll be cooler down by the lake, I would think .
▪
I loathe this country, I would think , No, I love it.
▪
Male speaker I would think they'd like it two to three days old with a reasonable bounce.
▪
My head, I would agree with her. I would think she was right.
▪
No less than three hours, I would think , perhaps as many as five or six.
▪
Pretty heavily on fire, too, I would think .
▪
She would wear it for Chapel Anniversary, I would think , because that was a very special occasion in Baldersdale.
▪
This looks tough, I would think , and then immediately forget about it.
▪
Three reasons, I would think .
I would think/imagine/say
▪
And that, I would say, is what we, in our own religious rites, had best be doing too.
▪
Dominic remains, I would say, a preposterously beautiful creature.
▪
Elizabeth: I would say about 185 pounds.
▪
Is there a chance Chrysler might buy Fiat? I would think there's essentially zero chance of that happening.
▪
Perhaps it is more a matter for philosophers than scientists, but I would say not.
▪
Pretty heavily on fire, too, I would think.
▪
That is a prime question, I would say, of this hour in the bringing up of children.
▪
This looks tough, I would think, and then immediately forget about it.
I wouldn't be seen/caught dead
I wouldn't know
▪
"When's he coming back?" "I wouldn't know ."
I wouldn't mind (doing) sth
I wouldn't miss it for the world
I wouldn't put it past sb (to do sth)
▪
I wouldn't put it past Colin to lie to his wife.
I wouldn't put it past sb (to do sth)
I wouldn't say no (to sth)
▪
I wouldn't say no to a cup of coffee.
I'd be obliged if
I'd better mosey along/be moseying along
I'd hate (for) sb/sth to do sth
▪
I'd hate all that food to spoil.
▪
I'd hate for my child to grow up in such a violent city.
▪
I'd hate anyone to think that I did well out of dealing with the problem page.
▪
I'd hate some one to come along and see me.
I'd like to see you/him do sth
▪
But I 'd like to see you again, when we can make time.
▪
I 'd like to see him again.
▪
I 'd like to see you give our boys a run for their money.
I'd like to think/believe (that)
▪
I'd like to believe that he's telling the truth.
▪
I'd like to think I know a little about airplanes.
▪
But I 'd like to think that gallantry isn't dead.
▪
Dad and I clashed more than I 'd like to think about.
▪
I 'd like to think Beardsley and Wright will get the nod and Graham doesn't get it wrong again.
▪
I 'd like to think that it does have some meaning.
▪
It is a novelty record in some respects, although I 'd like to think it's a lot deeper than that too.
▪
Perhaps it wasn't very subtle, but I 'd like to think it was funny.
I'd put (my) money on sth
▪
Even the madmen wouldn't have him in real life, I 'd put money on it.
▪
Personally, I 'd put my money on accidental death without a second thought.
I'd rather die
▪
Apologize to that creep! I'd rather die !
▪
I'd rather die than work for my uncle.
▪
I'd rather die than eat.
▪
I'd rather die than go back out the way I was.
I'd stake my life on it
I'll be bound
I'll be damned
▪
They came and got it already? I'll be damned .
I'll be darned if ...
I'll be darned!
I'll be hanged if
I'll be right with you/right there/right back
I'll drink to that!
I'll eat my hat
▪
If the Democrats win, I'll eat my hat!
I'll give you that
▪
It's nice - I'll give you that - but I still wouldn't want to live there.
▪
I 'll give you that much, you did.
▪
It's quite a place, I 'll give it that.
▪
Okay, I 'll give you that as well.
▪
They were not incompetents, I 'll give them that.
▪
Well, it's been your century, you guys, I 'll give you that.
I'll have sb's guts for garters
I'll have you know
▪
I'll have you know I speak six languages.
▪
I've never taken the easy way out, I 'll have you know.
▪
I 'll have you know this is the very latest design.
I'll have/we'll have
I'll knock your head/block off
I'll never forget sth
I'll say this/that (much) for sb
▪
And he's got guts, I 'll say that for him.
▪
He was a demon wonder at finding food, I 'll say that for Vern.
▪
I 'll say that for Lorne.
I'll say this/that much for sb/sth
▪
I'll say this much for him, he was consistent until the end.
I'll say!
I'll see what I can do
▪
"I really need it by tomorrow." "I can't make any promises, but I'll see what I can do."
I'll show him/them etc
I'll tell you something/one thing/another thing
▪
Let me tell you something - if I catch you kids smoking, you'll be grounded for a whole year at least.
I'll thank you to do sth
▪
I'll thank you to mind your own business.
I'll wager
▪
I'll wager that boy's never worked in his life!
I'll warrant (you)
I'll wring sb's neck
▪
When Dean gets home, I'm going to wring his neck.
I'm a Dutchman
I'm afraid
▪
I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.
I'm all right Jack
I'm buggered if ...
I'm buggered/bugger me!
I'm easy
▪
"Do you want to stop at the mall now or on the way home?" "I'm easy ."
▪
"Do you want to watch the news or the late night film?'' "I'm easy .''
I'm hoping
I'm not being funny (but)
I'm not in the habit of doing sth
▪
I'm not in the habit of lying to my friends.
I'm not made of money
▪
"Why don't you move to a bigger house?" "I'm not made of money, you know!"
▪
I can't buy you shoes as well - I'm not made of money!
I'm not made of money
I'm not prepared to do sth
▪
I'm not prepared to let them take my business without a fight.
I'm not suggesting
▪
I'm not suggesting that she's stupid or anything.
I'm not telling (you)
I'm only/just doing my job
I'm sorry to say (that)
I'm talking to you!
▪
Hey! I'm talking to you! Look at me!
I'm/We're not worthy
I'm/he's/she's like ...
▪
He was like , huh?
▪
I asked him if he thought Liz was cute, and he's like , yeah, definitely.
▪
We were like , oh no!
I'm/we're/you're talking (about) sth
I've got it
I've got news for you
I've heard that one before
I've known sb/sth to do sth
I've only got one pair of hands
I, for one, ...
I/I'll tell you what
▪
I tell you what, I'll make you dinner if you drive me to the store.
I/he etc will never hear the end of it
I/we don't have all day
▪
Hurry up, we don't have all day !
▪
But Sally does not have all day here.
I/we live in hope
I/we shall
▪
And thus we shall get the Government that we deserve.
▪
As we shall see later, the ongoing health of children in Seascale has become a critical issue for the nuclear industry.
▪
Either: As agreed at our initial meeting, we shall inform your auditors of this appointment.
▪
I don't know what it will be, but I shall find a way to help her in the end.
▪
It is a kindness I shall never forget.
▪
That is a point to which I shall return in the next chapter.
▪
This raises a general question which is central to these areas, and which I shall call the representation problem.
▪
Three Levels on which rationality has practical significance may be distinguished, which I shall call groundedness, enlightenment and emancipation.
I/we was robbed!
I/we won't eat you
I/you can count sb/sth on (the fingers of) one hand
I/you can't/couldn't ask for a better sth
I/you might as well be hanged for a sheep as (for) a lamb
I/you should be so lucky!
▪
Sleep past 6 a.m.? I should be so lucky !
If I should die, think only this of me:/That there's some corner of a foreign field/That is forever England
and I'm the Queen of Sheba
as far as I can judge
as if I cared!
as/so far as I know/I can remember/I can tell/I can see etc
as/so far as I'm concerned
bless my soul/I'll be blessed!
can/could/may I have
▪
Are you saying that you're refusing to do that? ... Could I have your number?
▪
How can I have a death certificate?
▪
How could I have been anything but evil to her?
▪
How could I have been such a fool as to take him seriously?
▪
How else could I have known about it unless I was your son?
▪
It seemed a dream come true-what more could I have asked for?
▪
My question is, how can I have problems like other fishkeepers?
▪
What could I have paid for it?
correct me if I'm wrong
▪
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you say you'd never met him before?
correct me if I'm wrong
dare I say/suggest
▪
Dohnányi, dare I say it, is merely bland.
▪
Fashionwise, it was not a night to look, dare I say it, nice.
▪
For children of all ages this is a fascinating display and one, dare I say it, which reaches new heights.
▪
Of course some of Our Guild Members are dare I say it just that wee bit narrow minded.
▪
What if some one could undergo that absorption with a cool ... dare I say it? ... scientific rationale.
▪
You may, dare I say it, need the money.
darned if I know
don't bet on it/I wouldn't bet on it
▪
Maybe he's really a nice guy, but I wouldn't bet on it.
dot the i's and cross the t's
▪
Well, we haven't dotted the i's and crossed the t's, but the contract's nearly ready.
for all I know
▪
I opened the window, and for all I know it's still open.
▪
It cost millions. It could be billions for all I know .
▪
And they probably have cameras on it for all I know .
▪
During the war for all I know ?
▪
He might even be her source, for all I knew .
▪
Snow and ice were deadly for all I knew , never having driven on either.
▪
The real losers will, for all I know , eat dirt.
▪
There were a few people around, polishing and sweeping, and maybe spreading incense for all I knew .
▪
You might be from the newspapers, for all I know .
for two pins I'd ...
from where I stand
▪
Well from where I stand , it looks like you've found a good job.
▪
But from where I stand , it is the wider issue of transparency that really counts.
▪
Even from where I stood , I glimpsed Eadred's agitation.
▪
He ambled over to the nearest tree - happily some metres from where I stood hidden, and turned towards the tower.
▪
I can shake things up a little from where I stand .
▪
I could smell its peppery, pungent scent from where I stood .
how should I know?/how am I to know?/how do I know?
how was I to know?/how did I know?
if I had my way
▪
If I had my way , there'd be a baseball game every day of the year.
▪
Well, I would ban them too if I had my way .
if I may be so bold
▪
And what, if I may be so bold , is the meaning of this note?
if I may say so
▪
And his manner was, if I may say so, more relaxed, almost like an aristocrat.
▪
And if I may say so, they seem more useful than yours.
▪
For my interior vision, if I may say so, it still works.
▪
Now, you're a plants-woman of no small renown, if I may say so, your ladyship.
▪
Suicidal, if I may say so.
▪
Unlike, if I may say so, the dabblings of your brother in the theology of physics.
▪
Very sexist of you to assume otherwise, if I may say so.
if I were you
▪
If I were you, I'd sell that car.
▪
Here's your money -- if I were you I'd put it in the bank right now.
▪
I wouldn't do that if I were you.
▪
But if I were you I'd give him his wife back and find yourself some one more suitable.
▪
But I shouldn't bother if I were you.
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But I wouldn't put any money on it, if I were you.
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I would go, if I were you.
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I would not impose thusly on a stepson if I were you.
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Meanwhile, I'd get ready for a little visit from the police if I were you.
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Shit, she said, I would have liked some one doing that if I were him.
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Well if I were you I'd get in touch with me if anything turned up.
it was all I could do to do sth
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I followed one up the motorway just yesterday and it was all I could do to not retch.
▪
When pro golfer Tiger Woods won the Masters two weeks ago, it was all I could do to suppress a yawn.
it's the least I can do
it's time I was moving/we ought to get moving etc
let me remind you/may I remind you (that)
like I say/said
▪
Like I said, I really appreciate your help.
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And like I said, he won't be getting his kicks from smashing up other people's property.
▪
Answer, like I said everybody had materials on that rug.
▪
Anyway, like I said, she wants to make you some food, man.
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But like I say now, I want nice furniture to go along with it.
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But they're mostly like I say.
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Okay, I can picture it happening, like I said I have, one of those things that happen.
may I trouble you?/sorry to trouble you
may I/we ...?
might I say/ask/add etc
▪
And what happened to yours, might I ask?
need I ask/need I say more/need I go on etc?
not if I can help it
▪
"Are you going to stay very long?" "Not if I can help it."
not that I know of
▪
"Did anyone call for me?" "Not that I know of."
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Answer, not that I know of.
quoth I/he/she etc
see if I care!
see what I mean?
▪
See what I mean , Dad, about this camera being difficult to use?
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And little enough for cleverness, if you see what I mean .
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BBut you see what I mean .
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Do you see what I mean , he was trying?
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He had this manner, as if he was a bit above the rest of us, if you see what I mean .
▪
He just has the feelings, if you see what I mean .
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I think you will see what I mean only after tasting this bread.
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You see what I mean about having to keep up with things.
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You see what I mean when I say it's nothing new, it's been endlessly talked around.
shall I/we ... ?
shall I/we say
▪
A prankster, shall we say ?
▪
And what shall I say more?
▪
Here's how it opens: What shall we say , then?
▪
In other words, you've got to have, shall we say , the equipment to go with the line.
▪
Instead, he summoned Ford to Philadelphia, a place where Ford is, shall we say , known?
▪
It has, shall we say , connotations!
▪
She was a pretty fiery, and shall we say , a somewhat lusty character.
▪
What shall I say , eh, eh, eh?
so/as far as I am aware
sorry/I'm sorry
▪
Sorry about all the noise.
▪
Sorry we're late, Shelley.
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Sorry , did I step on your foot?
▪
I'm sorry for barging in without ringing the bell.
▪
I'm sorry that I shouted at you.
▪
I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to discuss my essay.
▪
I'm sorry , I didn't mean to be rude.
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I'm really sorry , Joanna. I've broken one of your glasses.
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I'm really sorry . I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
that's all I need/that's just what I didn't need
that's what I mean
▪
"You've got to think about later on in life, too." "That's what I mean . It's getting closer."
▪
And that's what I mean about friends.
▪
But that's what I meant about technology having caught you up.
▪
I deny I get long holidays, that's what I mean .
▪
I think that's what I mean .
the first I knew/heard
▪
And yet these hills are the first I knew and loved.
▪
It was the first I knew about it.
the last I heard
▪
I had a feeling it would be the last I heard of him.
▪
She came and collected the keys, and that was the last I heard from her.
the next thing I/she etc knew
▪
And the next thing I knew, I was here.
▪
But the next thing she knew she was crying.
▪
He slipped something in my wine and the next thing I knew was that we were on the Continent.
▪
I fell asleep, and the next thing I knew, some one was waking me.
▪
I had hardly dated, and the next thing I knew I was getting married.
▪
I must have fallen asleep, for the next thing I knew I was woken by the ringing of the telephone.
▪
I started to run and the next thing I knew I was lying on the kitchen table.
the way I see it
▪
The way I see it, it was a fair trade.
▪
Best thing that could happen, the way I see it.
▪
Now the way I see it, you want more upmarket time than the plebs.
there I was/there they were etc
there but for the grace of God (go I)
what can I do you for?
▪
Good morning, Mitch! What can I do you for today?
what should I see but sth/who should appear but sb etc
while I'm/you're etc at it
while I'm/you're etc at/about it
you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
I saw Mike yesterday.