absque hoc

Learned borrowing from Latin absque hoc (literally “without this”).

learned borrowing

(law) The technical words of denial used in denying what has been alleged.


yes

From Middle English yes, from Old English ġīese (“by all means, of course, yes”), derived from the same root as yea.

ya

expression of pleasure, joy or great excitement — see also yay

dí

response that asks for more information about a request

Response that confirms that the user is paying attention.


I'm fine, thank you

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-I'm fine, thank you.wav

The expected, polite response to how are you?

5@Sternum-FingerUp Contact

بِخَيْر الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰه (bi-ḵayr al-ḥamdu li-llāh, literally “good, praise God”)

kiitos, hyvää (in response to mitä kuuluu?)

お蔭様で、元気です

おかげさまで、げんきです, o-kage-sama de, genki desu

eu vou bem, obrigado (in response to como vai você?)


agreed

Totally agreed!

Indicates agreement on the part of the speaker.


amen

Inherited from Middle English amen, from Old English āmen, from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) (cognate with Arabic آمِينَ (ʔāmīna), Classical Syriac ܐܡܝܢ (ʾāmên)). In Old English, it was used only at the end of the Gospels. Elsewhere, it was translated as sōþlīċe! (“truly”, “indeed!”), swā hit is (“so it is”), and sīe! (“[so] be it!”).

der

As it was in the beginning, is nowe, and euerſhall be: worlde without ende. Amen.

1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “At the Communion”, in The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC, folio lxxii, recto:

Alſo I ſhooke my lap, and ſaid, So God ſhake out euery man from his houſe, and from his labour, that performeth not this promiſe, euen thus be he ſhaken out, and emptied. And all the Congregation ſaid, Amen, and praiſed the Lord. And the people did according to this promiſe.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Nehemiah 5:13, column 1:

Bleſſed be the Lord God, the God of Iſrael, who only doth wonderous things. And bleſſed be his glorious name for euer, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 72:18–19, column 1:

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

1662, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea”, in The Book of Common-Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, […], London: […] John Bill, and Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC, column 2:

May GOD, to Whom be praise and whose name be exalted, the King of Kings, vouchsafe His grace and may the Prophet Muhammed (on whom be the benediction and peace of GOD) grant His Blessings to this Proclamation. Amen! O Lord of the Universe!

1962, Omar Ali Saifuddien III, Proclamation of Emergency, page 14:

At the end of religious prayers: so be it.


likewise

From Middle English lykewise, lykewyse, lyke wyse, lijk wise, a shortened form of Middle English in lik wise (“in like wise”); equivalent to like + -wise. Compare with otherwise.

<i class="Latn mention" lang="en">in like wise</i>

It was very nice meeting you, Samantha. ― Likewise, Mr Thompson.

‘Let me know if you need any help.’ ‘Likewise.’


not on your nelly

From nelly, Nelly Duff, rhyming slang for puff (of breath = life).

(idiomatic, chiefly UK) not on your life, an emphatic form of no.


certainly

en-adv

certainly (comparative more certainly or (rare, obsolete) certainlier, superlative most certainly or (rare, obsolete) certainliest)

more certainly (comparative)
certainlier (comparative obsolete rare)
most certainly (superlative)
certainliest (obsolete rare superlative)

From Middle English certeynly; equivalent to certain + -ly.

The accident was certainly caused by human error.

That was certainly sweet of him.

'I'm all grown up now' -'You certainly have (grown)!'

So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills,[…]a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.

1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets.

2013 June 7, Gary Younge, “Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 18:


yessir

(Isle of Man, colloquial) Term of address to a male; mate; buddy.


aye aye, sir

(idiomatic, nautical) The correct and seamanlike reply, onboard a Royal Navy (or US Navy) ship, on receipt of an order from someone of senior rank or authority. It means "I understand the command and hasten to comply with the order."

bien

nautical - I hear, understand and will comply


me too

→ Chinese: 米兔 (mǐtù)

metoo (alternative)
me-too (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-me too.wav

我也是

góa ā-sī / góa ǎ-sǐ / góa iā-sī / góa iǎ-sǐ

engem is

see also its declension;as the object of a verb

ja też

ja will often be in the correct case for a situation


anytime

From Middle English any time, ony tyme, from Old English ǣniġum tīman, equivalent to any + time.

I don’t like beer much. Give me a fine wine anytime.

But despite the President’s offer, it’s unlikely that an influx of Norwegians will begin to settle in the US anytime soon.

2018 January 12, Kara Fox, “Norwegians aren’t likely to move to the US, even if they’re welcome”, in CNN:


I'm afraid so

I am afraid so (alternative)
'fraid so (alternative informal)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-I'm afraid so.wav

Do we really have to do every one by hand? Yes, I'm afraid so.

Unfortunately, yes; I regret that that is so.

pelkäänpä pahoin (often with "että"; "pelkäänpä pahoin, että ...")


I'm afraid not

I am afraid not (alternative)
'fraid not (alternative)

Do you have any beer? No, I'm afraid not.

Unfortunately, no; I regret that that is not so.


beats me

Do you have any idea what "tergiversate" means? Beats me!

Beats me how he finds out when we're goofing off.

"Flowering shrubs don't thrive in the subterranean caverns from which geysers spring," suggested Bradley. Olson shook his head. "It beats me," he said.

1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter IV, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLC:

(idiomatic, as response or with indirect question) I don't know; I have no idea.


ask my arse

(idiomatic, slang, vulgar, obsolete) A common reply to any question; once common at court and among sailors, under the name of "selling bargains".


OK yah

(British, upper class) an affirmative response


over my dead body

"Can I get a new sports car?" "Over my dead body!"

“An’ now I hear you’re sendin’ our flagship Pastores out at four o’clock this afternoon with another cock-eyed cross between a giraffe an’ a Gila monster— / “By my soul, never!” yells th’ G.P.A., jumpin’ up like a bumb has gone off under him. “If the Pastores sails with that red-skirted gorilless aboard, it’ll be over my dead body!”

1923 December, Volney G. Mathison, “The Woman-Handler”, in Radio, volume V, number 12, pages 68 and 70, column 3:

(idiomatic, informal, usually hyperbolic) Under no circumstances; absolutely not.

除非我死了 (chúfēi wǒ sǐ le, literally “over my dead body”)

門都沒有 /门都没有 (mén dū méi yǒu, literally “not even a door”)


I don't know

[ɑ̈ɪ̯(ɾ)oʊ̯̃(ʔ)(t̚)noʊ̯]

pronoun (depending on who is speaking with whom) + không biết (general form)

Mr. Schidtler: Does anybody here have any idea why "Inestine" was regarded as a great scientist? Kevin?
Kevin: Oh, uh, I don't know.

1982, “You Can't Do That on Television”, in Nickelodeon, season 3, episode 11:

Used in response to a question or command in which the target person does not know the answer to or how to respond.


not on your life

Do you think I will ever go back after that? Not on your life!

(idiomatic) Absolutely not; under no circumstances.

not touch something with a ten foot pole


will do

An ellipsis for "I will do (it or that)."

Could you wake me when you get up? — No problem, will do.

Make sure you understand this before the next class. — Will do, for sure.

One of us needs to verify the source. — Will do, but I could use some help.

(by ellipsis) Affirmative yes in response to an especially personal or direct request for the performance of some action.


pull the other one, it's got bells on

En-us-pull the other one, it's got bells on.oga

As an extension of the phrase pull someone's leg—now that you've pulled one leg, pull the other one.

Is he going to study integrals? Pull the other one, it's got bells on—he can't even do basic multiplication.

(UK, idiomatic, humorous) Expresses disbelief.


feel free

en-verb

feel free (third-person singular simple present feels free, present participle feeling free, simple past and past participle felt free)

feels free (present singular third-person)
feeling free (participle present)
felt free (participle past)
felt free (past)

ご遠慮なく...してください

ごえんりょなく...してください

The co-pilot didn't feel free to speak up to the pilot in the cockpit.

(idiomatic, with to-infinitive) To feel able without giving offense.

While you're babysitting, feel free to open anything in the spirit cupboard.

(as imperative, with to-infinitive) You have my permission.

"Can I take a look at the draft you've prepared?" / "Feel free."

(as imperative, in response) You have my permission.


you knows it

This phrase was popularised by The GLC from Newport, Wales, but has had currency in US Afro-American vernacular English and possibly elsewhere since no later than the 1960s.

What he did to her was wrong. —You knows it, sister!

Mose would ha rallied, ef eed a been in our ward — ha ! ha ! ha ! — you knows it, Mass Richard !

1861, Frederick Law Olmsted, The Cotton Kingdom: A Traveller's Observations on Cotton and Slavery, page 187:

Buster: (impressed) You'se a cool dude, Butch. / Butch: Hey, you knows it, baby.

1984, Brian Richard Mori, Dreams of Flight, page 20:

We welcome you, you knows it. Didn't even need to ask, but it fine all right you did.

2002, Lorian Hemingway, A World Turned Over: A Killer Tornado and the Lives It Changed Forever, page 112:

(idiomatic, dialect, slang) Indicates agreement, approval, encouragement.


why not

Why not try turning the handle in the other direction to see if that opens the window?

(rhetorical) Used to introduce a proposal.


no worries

From no + plural of worry (“concern, cause for anxiety”), but used flexibly.

Sorry if my music's bothering you. — No worries. I really like classical.

(especially UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, colloquial) A general injunction not to be concerned further with a subject.

It does not bother me; I am not concerned.

Thanks for the lovely bowl of fruit. — No worries, my sister runs a stall at the market.

It was no problem; not at all; you're welcome.

I need this done by closing time. — No worries, I'll have it sorted.


fuck knows

Probably a shortening of "who the fuck knows"

Fuck knows what we'll do now the car's broken down.

(idiomatic, vulgar, followed by a wh-clause) I don't know; nobody knows; it is unclear.


no

Inherited from Middle English no, na, from Old English nā, nō (“no, not, not ever, never”), from Proto-West Germanic *naiwō, from Proto-Germanic *naiwô (“never”), *ne (“not”), from Proto-Indo-European *né, *nē, *nēy (negative particle), equivalent to Old English ne (“not”) + ā, ō (“ever, always”). Cognate with Scots na (“no”), Saterland Frisian noa (“no”), West Frisian né (“no”), nea (“never”), Dutch nee (“no”), Low German nee (“no”), German nie (“never”), dialectal German nö (“no”), Danish nej (“no”), Swedish nej (“no”), Icelandic nei (“no”). More at nay.

nah (alternative)
nope (alternative)
nay (alternative)

I just want to find out whether she's coming or no.

Can ye no help me?

AS the Devil is not so Black as he is Painted, so neither does he appear in so many Shapes as we make for him; we Dress him up in more Suits of Cloaths, and more Masquerade Habits, than ever he wore; and I question much, if he was to see the Pictures and Figures which we call Devil, whether he would know himself by some of them or no.

1725, Daniel Defoe, An essay on the history and reality of apparitions:

(without adjective, now Scotland, informal) Not.


pull the other leg

pull the other leg (third-person singular simple present pulls the other leg, present participle pulling the other leg, simple past and past participle pulled the other leg)

pulls the other leg (present singular third-person)
pulling the other leg (participle present)
pulled the other leg (participle past)
pulled the other leg (past)

(idiomatic) In imperative/precative form, used to imply that the speaker does not accept or believe what another has just said.


me three

A pun, based on a jocular re-interpretation of me too as me two. Can be continued as me four, me five, and so on.

“...Come if you can—he’d like that a lot.” / “Me, too.” / “Me, three.” She gave a girlish giggle and unlocked her door.

1982, Richard Kluger, Un-American Activities, Doubleday Publishing, page 524

“I hate saying good-bye,” Lulu said sadly. / “Me too,” Pam said. / “Me three,” Anna said.

1995, Jeanne Betancourt, Give Me Back My Pony, Scholastic Paperbacks,, →ISBN, page 16:

Perhaps a first worker complained about an aspect of their work environment, and others chimed in—Me too, me three!

2006, Michelle Murphy, Sick Building Syndrome and the Problem of Uncertainty: Environmental Politics, Technoscience, and Women Workers, Duke University Press, page 1

(idiomatic, humorous) Used to express agreement, after someone has already said "me too." Can be continued as "me four," "me five," and so on.


me three

Mostly, I just wanted to say sort of a me-too, or me-three, or me-ten statement at this point: The census is extremely important.

1980 June 7, in U.S. House Subcommittee on Census and Population, Oversight hearings on the 1980 census: hearings before the Subcommittee on Census and Population of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first [-second] session, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 95

(idiomatic) An expression of support to a position that has already been proposed and seconded after someone has already said "me too." Can be continued as me four, me five, and so on.


who cares

"I'll never speak to you again as long as I live," said Joe, rising. "There now!" And he moved moodily away and began to dress himself.
"Who cares!" said Tom. "Nobody wants you to. Go 'long home and get laughed at. Oh, you're a nice pirate. Huck and me ain't crybabies. We'll stay, won't we, Huck? Let him go if he wants to. I reckon we can get along without him, per'aps."

1876, Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Part 4:

"But it's ever so much longer, and we're so late," grumbled Duncan.
"Who cares?" cried Elsie, stolidly. "I'm a girl and I'm not going to climb up the hill in this heat."
Duncan stared again. He had never heard Elsie complain of the hill before. Usually they scampered up it, and rolled down the steepest side—not, truly, when there was milk to carry, but at other times. And now Elsie was walking along in a languid, mincing fashion, as if she had no more fun in her than Robbie himself, and had never scampered bare-foot over the moor six days out of every week, no matter what the weather might be.
"There's Robbie at the garden gate beckoning us. I expect mother's very angry," cried Duncan, despairingly.
"Who cares? let him beckon," Elsie replied, with the most provoking indifference. "Run on by yourself if you're afraid."

1884 July, author not named, “A Little Too Clever”, in Little Folks: A Magazine for the Young:

c.1888, George Manville Fenn, Dick o' the Fens: A Tale of the Great Eastern Swamp,
"No, but it's not nice all the same to live in a place where lots of people were murdered."
"Tchah! who cares! I don't. It's a capital old place, and you never dig anywhere without finding something."
"Yes," said Tom solemnly, "something that isn't always nice."

"Well," said Peter Piper, "we have been called Meg and Peg and Kilmanskeg and Gustibus and Peter Piper instead of our grand names, and now we live in a place called Racketty-Packetty House. Who cares! Let's join hands and have a dance."

1906, Frances H. Burnett, Racketty-Packetty House:

It makes no difference if you fall on the whirl. Who cares? And when you are through dancing you can go out to the faucet and get yourself a drink—provided the water hasn't been turned off.

1922, Robert Benchley, Love Conquers All:

Freddy Farmer added two one-dollar bills to the hockey tickets and walked away. The two soldiers gaped down at the two tickets and the two dollars.
"What's the matter with that guy; is he touched?" one of them mumbled. "And did you hear him, Fuzzy? He didn't even speak English!"
"Who cares?" Fuzzy asked as he came out of his trance. "Two four-buck-forty hockey tickets, and two bucks in cash! Who cares if the guy is touched? He's okay by me!"

1944, Robert Sydney Bowen, Dave Dawson at Casablanca:

(colloquial, rhetorical question) A reply that dismisses the importance of another speaker's immediately preceding statement.


YW

The first step, though, is selecting the best prompts and then crafting up some clever answers that can make your matches fall in love with you (or, you know, ask you out). The good news? We’ve taken care of all that below, so you can spend less time stressing about your profile and more time meeting the love of your life! YW!

2024 April 8, Lydia Wang, Morgan Sullivan, Rachel Varina, “24 Best Hinge Prompts to Actually Help Your Matches Get to Know You”, in Cosmopolitan:

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of you're welcome.


say what

(idiomatic, colloquial) What did you say?; Huh?; expresses incredulity.


your wish is my command

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-your wish is my command.wav

"Your Highness's wish is my command," says Sir Joshua suavely, for he is intensely curious as to the contents of the document.

1900 March 31, The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, NSW, page 6, column 4:

(often humorous) Whatever you say you wish for I will treat as a command and do straight away.

zure nahiak aginduak dira niretzat

what you wish for I will effect as if it were a command

слу́шаю и повину́юсь (slúšaju i povinújusʹ, literally “I listen and obey”)

твоё жела́ние — для меня́ зако́н (tvojó želánije — dlja menjá zakón, literally “your wish is a law for me”)


I'll say

- Jack's put on a bit of weight recently.
- I'll say!

(idiomatic, colloquial) Used to indicate emphatic agreement


tomayto, tomahto

George Gershwin
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

Uses the American English and British English pronunciations of the word tomato. Allusion to George Gershwin's song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off": "You like tomato (/təˈmeɪtə/) and I like tomato (/təˈmɑːtə/)".

tomato, tomato (alternative)
tomayto tomahto (alternative)
potayto, potahto (alternative)

distinction without a difference#English

(idiomatic) Used to dismissively suggest that something is a distinction without a difference.

не по врат, а по шия

to suggest a distinction without a difference

čy v kamiń holovoju, čy kamenem u holovu

чи в камінь головою, чи каменем у голову


same to you

Jack: “Merry Christmas, Bob.” / Bob: “Same to you, Jack.”

“Go to hell, bozo!” – “Same to you, fella!”

I wish to you what you have just wished to me.


you're on

Let's play a game of chess. ― You're on!

(informal) Used to indicate acceptance by the speaker of a proposal or challenge, especially a competitive one.


like fun

Do they think I have a million dollars and spend it? Like fun I do. Not with the kind of discipline my parents believe in.

1927 October 7, “Chess Championship.”, in Ottawa Citizen:

"Give me that gun!" "Like fun I will," Leigh snapped.

a.''' 1946, Raymond J. Healy, J. Francis McComas, editors, Adventures in time and space: an anthology of modern science-fiction stories, page 607:

(as response, US, dated) Definitely not.


you get that

I tried driving into the city this morning during peak hour and it was so crowded. ― Yeah, you get that.

(informal) That's a normal occurrence; that's typical.


it figures

figures (alternative)
that figures (alternative)

(idiomatic, Canada, US) Used to indicate that a preceding event or statement by another is an unsurprising accompaniment of known facts and circumstances.


that figures

(idiomatic) Alternative form of it figures.


I'm fine

Conventional response to "how are you?", indicating that one is well.

我好勢 /我好势

góa hó-sè / góa hó-sì / óa hó-sè / óa hó-sì


I know

A response used to indicate that speaker was in agreement with the preceding statement before it was made.

𐔰𐔰𐔵𐔰

response indicating agreement with prior statement before it was made


you're telling me

Near-synonyms: I know, right; IKR

(idiomatic, informal) Used to indicate that the speaker was in agreement with the preceding statement before it was made.

älä muuta virka

used to indicate agreement before preceding statement


that's the spirit

I may have failed this job interview, but there will be many more opportunities in the future. ― That's the spirit!

Ibanez shook out her jumpsuit sleeves. "Delta, the guy, was no great shakes; he rolled around with Lil, tried to roll me, and I put one of his own bullets between his eyes. Sorry."

2022 October 4, HarryBlank, “Drilling Down”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 2024-05-23:

Used to encourage someone's positive attitude.


don't mind if I do

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-don't mind if I do.wav

Would you like a biscuit? ― Don't mind if I do!

(informal) Used to express acceptance of something offered to the speaker.

好的

used to express acceptance of something offered to the speaker


roger that

Extension of roger for received in radio traffic (by 1950), the pronoun referring to the last information received; in use by 1969, popularised at first by radio transmissions from NASA's Apollo missions, later in military fiction.

1969 "Capsule Communicator: '11, this is Houston. We've completed the trunnion zero bias setting. You can retrieve the computer and go to BLOCK.' Commander (Neil A. Armstrong): 'Roger that. Thank you.' ", Apollo 11 Air-to-Ground Voice Transcription (Tape 4/5, mission time 5h 16 min), 16 July 1969.

1974 "This is the book for everybody who ever groaned under the onslaught of trivia transmitted by the astronauts ('This sunset is really something, Houston...' 'Roger that...'). review of M. Collins, "Carrying the Fire", Flying Magazine, November 1974, p. 108.

1989 "'It's going to blow visibility to shit, too.' 'Roger that.'" Tom Clancy, Clear and Present Danger, p. 506.

(radio telecommunications) Received (used in radio communications to acknowledge that a message has been received and understood)


no clue

From no + clue, as the speaker does not have a clue about the answer to the question. Most likely a shortened form of "I have no clue".

Do you know what the weather will be like today? / No clue. Why do you ask?

Response affirming that the speaker does not have knowledge pertaining to an interlocutor's question


I do not know it

(formal) Alternative version of I don't know.