Daily speaking expressions English Expressions in Speaking & Writing & How to Use Them

Contd.

7. I'd rather not talk about it.
8. Mind your own business.
9. Never you mind.
10. I'll tell you when you're older.

• Phrase 7 is a more polite way to say that the information is private and you don't want to talk about it.
• Phrases 8 and 9 are not very polite and are criticising the other person for asking for private information.
• Parents often say phrase 10 to their children to avoid answering difficult or embarrassing questions. Usually they have no intention of ever answering the question.

Asking for help

• Phrase 1 is quite a direct question to use with friends and people who you know quite well.
• Phrase 2 is more polite. We include the words 'for a second' to show that we don't need a lot of help and that it will not be difficult.
• Phrase 3 is a general way of introducing a request for help.
• Phrase 4 is polite and can be used with people you don't know very well, or with your boss.
• Phrase 5 is quite direct, and the focus is that you really need help. It's quite strong.

Contd.

• Phrase 6 shows you have a big problem. You are desperate for help. you often hear this phrase when somebody has too much work to do.
• Phrases 7 and 8 are similar and are direct requests for help. 'Lend a hand' is a little more polite and old-fashioned than 'give me a hand.'
• We use phrase 9 to show that we respect that the other person is really quite busy and to say that they will only need to help you for a short time.

Disagreeing with people

• Phrases 1 and 2 are quite polite and not too direct in saying you disagree.
• Phrase 3 is neutral. We use 'I'm afraid' to soften it and make it less aggressive to the other speaker.
• Phrases 4 and 5 are showing partial agreement with the other speaker but both are followed with the second speaker's (different) ideas.
• Phrase 6 is used to question how the other speaker could really think something that you think is completely wrong.