CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES A A most extraordinary idea! A thousand hopes for your success Accept my best wishes All that is conjecture Allow me to congratulate you An unfortunate comparison, don't you think? And even if it were so? And how am I to thank you? And in the end, what are you going to make of it? And yet the explanation does not wholly satisfy me Apparently I was wrong Are we wandering from the point? Are you a trifle -- bored? Are you fully reconciled? Are you not complicating the question? Are you prepared to go to that length? Are you still obdurate? As it happens, your conjecture is right Assuredly I do At first blush it may seem fantastic B Banish such thoughts But are you not taking a slightly one-sided point of view? But consider for a moment But I look at the practical side But I wander from my point But now I'll confide something to you But perhaps I'm hardly fair when I say that But seriously speaking, what is the use of it? But surely that is inconsistent But that's a tremendous hazard But the thing is simply impossible But there's one thing you haven't said But, wait, you haven't heard the end But what do you yourself think about it? But who could foresee what was going to happen? But you are open to persuasion? But you do not know for certain But you must tell me more By a curious chance, I know it very well By no means desirable, I think C Can I persuade you? Can you imagine anything so horrible? Certain circumstances make it undesirable Certainly not, if it displeases you Certainly, with the greatest pleasure Come, where's your sense of humor? Consult me when you want me -- at any time D Decidedly so Dine with me to-morrow night? -- if you are free? Do I presume too much? Do I seem very ungenerous? Do not misunderstand me Do not the circumstances justify it? Don't be so dismal, please Don't delude yourself Don't let me encroach on your good nature Don't think I am unappreciative of your kindness Do you attach any particular meaning to that? Do you know, I envy you that Do you know what his chief interests are now? Do you mind my making a suggestion? Do you press me to tell? Do you really regard him as a serious antagonist? Do you think there is anything ominous in it? Does it please you so tremendously? Does it seem incredible? E Either way is perplexing Eminently proper, I think Everyone looks at it differently Excuse my bluntness F Fanciful, I should say For the simplest of reasons Forgive me if I seem disobliging Fortunate, to say the least Frankly, I don't see why it should Frugal to a degree Fulsome praise, I call it G Give me your sympathy and counsel Glorious to contemplate Good! that is at least something Gratifying, I am sure H Happily there are exceptions to every rule Has it really come to that? Have I incurred your displeasure? Have you any rooted objection to it? Have you anything definite in your mind? Have you reflected what the consequences might be to yourself? He does me too much honor He feels it acutely He has a queer conception of the proprieties He is a poor dissembler [dissemble = conceal behind a false appearance] He is anything but obtuse He is so ludicrously wrong He is the most guileless of men He was so extremely susceptible He writes uncommonly clever letters Heaven forbid that I should wound your sensibility His sense of humor is unquenchable How amiable you are to say so How can I tell you how much I have enjoyed it all? How can I thank you? How can you be so unjust? How delightful to meet you How does the idea appeal to you? How droll you are! How extraordinary! How intensely interesting! How perfectly delightful! How utterly abominable How very agreeable this is! How very interesting How very surprising How well you do it! However, I should like to hear your views Human nature interests me very much indeed I I admire your foresight I admit it most gratefully I agree -- at least, I suppose I do I agree that something ought to be done I always welcome criticism so long as it is sincere I am absolutely bewildered I am afraid I am not familiar enough with the subject I am afraid I cannot suggest an alternative I am afraid I've allowed you to tire yourself I am afraid I must confess my ignorance I am afraid you will call me a sentimentalist I am always glad to do anything to please you I am anxious to discharge the very onerous debt I owe you I am appealing to your sense of humor I am at your service I am bound to secrecy I am compelled to, unluckily I am curious to learn what his motive was I am deeply flattered and grateful I am delighted to hear you say so I am dumb with admiration I am entirely at your disposal I am extremely glad you approve of it I am far from believing the maxim I am fortunate in being able to do you a service I am glad to be able to think that I am glad to have had this talk with you I am glad to say that I have entirely lost that faculty I am glad you can see it in that way I am glad you feel so deeply about it I am giving you well-deserved praise I am going to make a confession I am grateful for your good opinion I am honestly indignant I am, I confess, a little discouraged I am in a chastened mood I am inclined to agree with you I am incredulous I am indebted to you for the suggestion I am listening -- I was about to propose I am lost in admiration I am luckily disengaged to-day I am more grieved than I can tell you I am naturally overjoyed I am not a person of prejudices I am not an alarmist I am not as unreasonable as you suppose I am not at all in the secret of his ambitions I am not capable of unraveling it I am not going into sordid details I am not going to let you evade the question I am not going to pay you any idle compliments I am not impervious to the obligations involved I am not in sympathy with it I am not in the least surprised I am not inquisitive I am not prepared to say I am not sure that I can manage it I am not vindictive I am overjoyed to hear you say so I am perfectly aware of what I am saying I am persuaded by your candor I am quite convinced of that I am quite discomfited I am quite interested to see what you will do I am quite ready to be convinced I am rather of the opinion that I was mistaken I am ready to make great allowances I am really afraid I don't know I am really gregarious I am sensible of the flattery I am seriously annoyed with myself about it I am so glad you think that I am so sorry -- so very sorry I am sorry to disillusionize you I am sorry to interrupt this interesting discussion I am sorry to say it is impossible I am speaking plainly I am still a little of an idealist I am suppressing many of the details I am sure it sounds very strange to you I am sure you could pay me no higher compliment I am sure you will hear me out I am surprised, I confess I am sustained by the prospect of a good dinner I am vastly obliged to you I am vastly your debtor for the information I am very far from being a fanatic I am very glad of this opportunity I am very grateful -- very much flattered I am wholly in agreement with you I am willing to accept all the consequences I am wonderfully well I am wondering if I may dare ask you a very personal question? I am your creditor unawares I anticipate your argument I appreciate your motives I assure you it is most painful to me I assure you my knowledge of it is limited I bear no malice about that I beg your indulgence I beg your pardon, but you take it too seriously I brazenly confess it I can easily understand your astonishment I can explain the apparent contradiction I can find no satisfaction in it I can hardly agree with you there I can never be sufficiently grateful I can only tell you the bare facts I can scarcely accept the offer I can scarcely boast that honor I can scarcely imagine anything more disagreeable I can sympathize with you I cannot altogether acquit myself of interested motives I cannot explain it even to myself I cannot find much real satisfaction in it I cannot forbear to press my advantage I cannot imagine what you mean I cannot precisely determine I can't pretend to make a jest of what I'm going to say I cannot say definitely at the moment I cannot say that in fact it is always so I cannot see how you draw that conclusion I cannot thank you enough for all your consideration I compliment you on your good sense I confess, I find it difficult I could ask for nothing better I could never forgive myself for that I dare say your intuition is quite right I decline to commit myself beforehand I detest exaggeration I didn't mean that -- exactly I do not comprehend your meaning I don't deny that it is interesting I don't doubt it for a moment I do not doubt the sincerity of your arguments I do not exactly understand you I do not feel sure that I entirely share your views I don't feel that it is my business I do not find it an unpleasant subject I don't insist on your believing me I don't justify my presumption I don't know quite why you should say that I don't know that I can do that I don't know when I have heard anything so lamentable I don't know why you should be displeased I don't make myself clear, I see I don't pretend to explain I don't see anything particularly wonderful in it I don't underrate his kindness I don't want to disguise that from you I don't want to exaggerate I don't want to seem critical I doubt the truth of that saying I endorse it, every word I entirely approve of your plan I fancy it's just that I fear I cannot help you I fear that's too technical for me I feel a certain apprehension I feel an unwonted sense of gaiety [unwonted = unusual] I feel it my duty to be frank with you I feel myself scarcely competent to judge I feel very grateful to you for your kind offer I find it absorbing I find it rather monotonous I find this agreeable mental exhilaration I frankly confess that I generally trust my first impressions I give my word gladly I give you my most sacred word of honor I had better begin at the beginning I had no intention of being offensive I hadn't thought of it in that light I hardly think that could be so I have a hundred reasons for thinking so I have a peculiar affection for it I have an immense faith in him I have been constrained by circumstances I have been decidedly impressed I have been longing to see more of you I have been puzzling over a dilemma I have every reason to think so I have given you the best proof of it I have gone back to my first impressions I have known striking instances of the kind I have never heard it put so well I have no delusions on that score I have not succeeded in convincing myself of that I have not the influence you think I have not the least doubt of it I haven't the remotest idea I have often a difficulty in deciding I have often marveled at your courage I have quite changed my opinion about that I have something of great importance to say to you I have sometimes vaguely felt it I have the strongest possible prejudice against it I heartily congratulate you I hope it will not seem unreasonable to you I hope we may meet again I hope you will forgive an intruder I hope you will not think me irreverent I hope you will pardon my seeming carelessness I indulge the modest hope I know it is very presumptuous I know my request will appear singular I like it immensely I like your frankness I make no reflection whatever I mean it literally I might question all that I mistrust these wild impulses I most certainly agree with you I most humbly ask pardon I must add my congratulations on your taste I must apologize for intruding upon you I must ask you one more question, if I may I must confess I have never thought of that I must refrain from any comment I must respectfully decline to tell you I must take this opportunity to tell you I need not remind you that you have a grave responsibility I never heard anything so absurd I offer my humblest apologies I owe the idea wholly to you I partly agree with you I personally owe you a great debt of thankfulness I place myself entirely at your service I place the most implicit reliance on your good sense I prefer to reserve my judgment I purposely evaded the question I quite appreciate the very clever way you put it I quite see what the advantages are I really am curious to know how you guessed that I realize how painful it must be to you I recollect it clearly I rely on your good sense I remember the occasion perfectly I resent that kind of thing I respect you for that I respect your critical faculty I say it in all modesty I see disapproval in your face I see it from a different angle I see you are an enthusiast I see your point of view I seem to have heard that sentiment before I shall at once proceed to forget it I shall await your pleasure I shall be glad if you will join me I shall be interested to watch it develop I shall be most proud and pleased I shall certainly take you at your word I shall feel highly honored I shall make a point of thinking so I shall never forget your kindness I shall respect your confidence I should appreciate your confidence greatly I should be very ungrateful were I not satisfied with it I should feel unhappy if I did otherwise I should like your opinion of it I should not dream of asking you to do so I should think it very unlikely I simply cannot endure it I spoke only in jest I stand corrected I suppose I ought to feel flattered I surmised as much I sympathize deeply with you I take that for granted I think extremely well of it I think he has very noble ideals I think I can answer that for you I think I know what you are going to say I think it has its charm I think it is superb! I think it quite admirable I think its tone is remarkably temperate I think that is rather a brilliant idea I think what you say is reasonable I think you are quibbling I think you are rather severe in your opinions I think you have great appreciation of values I think you have summed it up perfectly I think your candor is charming I thoroughly agree with you I thought it most amusing I thought you were seriously indisposed I trust you will not consider it an impertinence I understand exactly how you feel about it I understand your delicacy of feeling I venture to propose another plan I very rarely allow myself that pleasure I want to have a frank understanding with you I was at a loss to understand the reason for it I was hoping that I could persuade you I was on the point of asking you I was speaking generally I watched you with admiration I will answer you frankly I will listen to no protestations I will take it only under compulsion I will tell you what puzzles me I will think of it, since you wish it I will, with great pleasure I wish I could explain my point more fully I wish I knew what you meant by that I wish to be perfectly fair I wish to put things as plainly as possible I wonder how much truth there is in it? I wonder if you have the smallest recollection of me? I would agree if I understood I wouldn't put it just that way If ever I can repay it, command me If I mistake not you were there once? If I speak strongly, it is because I feel strongly If I were disposed to offer counsel If I were sure you would not misunderstand my meaning If you don't mind my saying so If you insist upon it If you will pardon me the frankness In a manner that sometimes terrifies me In one respect you are quite right In that case let me rob you of a few minutes In what case, for example? Incredible as it sounds, I had for a moment forgotten Indeed, but it is quite possible Indeed! How? Indeed, you are wholly wrong Indifferently so, I am afraid Irony was ten thousand leagues from my intention Is it sane -- is it reasonable? Isn't it amazing? Isn't it extraordinarily funny? Isn't it preposterous? Isn't that a trifle unreasonable? Isn't that rather a hasty conclusion? Is that a fair question? It always seemed to me impossible It amuses you, doesn't it? It blunts the sensibilities It could never conceivably be anything but popular It depends on how you look at it It depends upon circumstances It doesn't sound plausible to me It has a lovely situation as I remember it It has amused me hugely It has been a relief to talk to you It has been an immense privilege to see you It has never occurred to me It is a curious fact It is a great pleasure to meet you It is a huge undertaking It is a most unfortunate affair It is a perfectly plain proposition It is a rather melancholy thought It is a truth universally acknowledged It is all very inexcusable It is all very well for you to be philosophical It is altogether probable It is an admirable way of putting it It is an error of taste It is an extreme case, but the principle is sound It is an ingenious theory It is an uncommonly fine description It is extremely interesting, I can assure you It is for you to decide It is historically true It is I who should ask forgiveness It is incredible! It is indeed generous of you to suggest it It is inexplicable It is interesting, as a theory It is literally impossible It is merely a mood It is most unfortunate It is my deliberately formed opinion It is my opinion you are too conscientious It is nevertheless true It is not a matter of the slightest consequence It is not always fair to judge by appearances It is not so unreasonable as you think It is often very misleading It is one of the grave problems of the day It is only a fancy of mine It is perfectly defensible It is perfectly trite It is permissible to gratify such an impulse It is possible, but I rather doubt it It is quite an easy matter It is quite conceivable It is quite too absurd It is rather startling It is really impressive It is really most callous of you to laugh It is sheer madness It is sickening and so insufferably arrogant It is simply a coincidence It is the most incomprehensible thing in the world It is to you that I am indebted for all this It is true, I am grieved to say It is true none the less It is very amusing It is very far from being a fiction It is very good of you to do this for my pleasure It is very ingenious It is very splendid of you It is wanton capriciousness It is your privilege to think so It's a difficult and delicate matter to discuss It's a matter of immediate urgency It's absolute folly It's absurd -- it's impossible It's all nonsense It's as logical as it can be under the circumstances It's been a strange experience for you It's deliciously honest It's going to be rather troublesome It's inconceivable that it should ever be necessary It's mere pride of opinion It's my chief form of recreation It's not a matter of vast importance It's past my comprehension It's quite wonderful how logical and simple you make it It's really very perplexing It's so charming of you to say that It's so kind of you to come It's such a bore having to talk about it It's the natural sequence It's too melancholy It's very wonderful It makes it all quite interesting It may sound strange to you It must be a trifle dull at times It must be fascinating It must be very gratifying to you It must have been rather embarrassing It seems an age since we've last seen you It seems entirely wonderful to me It seems incredible It seems like a distracting dream It seems preposterous It seems the height of absurdity It seems to me that you have a perfect right to do so It seems unspeakably funny to me It seems very ridiculous It shall be as you wish It should not be objectionable It sounds plausible It sounds profoundly interesting It sounds rather appalling It sounds very alluring It strikes me as rather pathetic It was an unpardonable liberty It was inevitable that you should say that It was most stupid of me to have forgotten it It was not unkindly meant It was peculiarly unfortunate It was really an extraordinary experience It was so incredible It was the most amazing thing I ever heard It was very good of you to come out and join us It will create a considerable sensation It will divert your thoughts from a mournful subject It will give me pleasure to do it It will not alter my determination It would be ill-advised It would interest me very much It would seem to be a wise decision It would take too long to formulate my thought J Join us, please, when you have time Just trust to the inspiration of the moment Justify it if you can L Let me persuade you Let me say how deeply indebted I feel for your kindness Let me speak frankly Let us grant that for the sake of the argument Let us take a concrete instance M Many thanks -- how kind and good you are! May I ask to whom you allude? May I be privileged to hear it? May I speak freely? May I venture to ask what inference you would draw from that? Might I suggest an alternative? Most dangerous! My attitude would be one of disapproval My confidence in you is absolute My idea of it is quite the reverse My information is rather scanty My meaning is quite the contrary My point of view is different, but I shall not insist upon it My views are altered in many respects N No, I am speaking seriously No, I don't understand it Not at all Not to my knowledge Nothing could be more delightful Now is it very plain to you? Now you are flippant O Obviously the matter is settled Of course, but that again isn't the point Of course I am delighted Of course I don't want to press you against your will Of course you will do what you think best Oh, certainly, if you wish it Oh, do not form an erroneous impression Oh, I appreciate that in you! Oh, that's mere quibbling Oh, that's splendid of you! Oh, that was a manner of speaking Oh, yes, I quite admit that Oh, yes, you may take that for granted Oh, you are very bitter Oh, you may be as scornful as you like On the contrary, I agree with you thoroughly On the face of it, it sounds reasonable One assumption you make I should like to contest One has no choice to endure it One must be indulgent under the circumstances One thing I beg of you P Pardon me, but I don't think so Pardon me, I meant something different Perhaps I am indiscreet Perhaps not in the strictest sense Perhaps you do not feel at liberty to do so Perhaps you think me ungrateful Personally I confess to an objection Please continue to be frank Please do not think I am asking out of mere curiosity Please forgive my thoughtlessness Please make yourself at home Pray don't apologize Pray forgive me for intruding on you so unceremoniously Pray go on! Precisely, that is just what I meant Put in that way it certainly sounds very well Q Question me, if you wish Quibbling, I call it Quite so Quite the wisest thing you can do R Rather loquacious, I think [loquacious = very talkative] Reading between the lines Really? I should have thought otherwise Really -- you must go? Reassure me, if you can Reflect upon the possible consequences Relatively speaking Reluctantly I admit it Reverting to another matter S Shall we have a compact? She has an extraordinary gift of conversation She is easily prejudiced She seems uncommonly appreciative She will be immensely surprised Show me that the two cases are analogous So far so good So I inferred So much the better for me So you observe the transformation? Something amuses you Sometimes the absurdity of it occurs to me Speaking with all due respect Still, you might make an exception Strangely it's true Such conduct seems to me unjustifiable Surely there can be no question about that Surely we can speak frankly Surely you sound too harsh a note Surely you would not countenance that T Tell me in what way you want me to help you Thank you for telling me that Thank you for your good intentions That, at least, you will agree to That depends on one's point of view That doesn't sound very logical That is a counsel of perfection That is a fair question, perhaps That is a question I have often proposed to myself That is a stroke of good fortune That is a superb piece of work That is a very practical explanation That is admirably clear That is certainly ideal That is eminently proper That is hardly consistent That is inconceivable That is just like you, if you will forgive me for saying so That is most fortunate That is most kind of you That is most unexpected and distressing That is not fair -- to me That is not to be lightly spoken of That is precisely what I mean That is quite true, theoretically That is rather a difficult question to answer That is rather a strange request to make That is rather awkward That is really good of you That is the prevailing idea That is tragic That is true and I think you are right That is very amiable in you That is very curious That is very felicitous That is very gracious That is what I call intelligent criticism That is what I meant to tell you That is a humiliating thought That is a most interesting idea That is such a hideous idea That is the most incredible part of it That might involve you in life-long self-reproach That must be exceedingly tiresome That ought to make you a little lenient That reassures me That shows the infirmity of his judgment That theory isn't tenable That was exceedingly generous That was intended ironically That was very thoughtful of you That was very well reasoned That will blast your chances, I am afraid That will suit me excellently That would be somewhat serious That would be very discreditable The agreement seems to be ideal The idea is monstrous The inference is obvious The notion is rather new to me The pleasure is certainly not all on your side The reason is not so far to seek The same problem has perplexed me The sentiment is worthy of you The simplest thing in the world The situation is uncommonly delicate The story seems to me incredible The subject is extremely interesting The tone of it was certainly hostile The very obvious moral is this The whole thing is an idle fancy Then I have your permission? Then you're really not disinclined? Then you merely want to ask my advice? There are endless difficulties There are reasons which make such a course impossible There is a good deal of sense in that There is a grain of truth in that, I admit There is food for reflection in that There is my hand on it There is no resisting you There is nothing I should like so much There is one inevitable condition There is something almost terrifying about it There must be extenuating circumstances They amuse me immensely This is a most unexpected pleasure This is charmingly new to me This is indeed good fortune This is really appalling This is really not a laughing matter Those are my own private feelings Those things are not forgotten at once To me it's simply outrageous To speak frankly, I do not like it True, I forgot! U Undeniably true Unfortunately I must decline the proposal Unlikely to be so Unquestionably superior Unwholesome influence, I would say V Very good, I'll do so Very well, I will consent Vivacity is her greatest charm Virtually accomplished, I believe Vouch for its truth W We are all more or less susceptible We are drifting away from our point We are impervious to certain rules We are merely wasting energy in this duel We can safely take it for granted We couldn't have a better topic We had better agree to differ We have had some conclusions in common We must judge it leniently We must not expose ourselves to misinterpretation We owe you a debt of gratitude We shall be glad to see you, if you care to come We will devoutly hope not Well, as a matter of fact, I have forgotten Well done! I congratulate you Well, I'm not going to argue that Well, I call it scandalous Well, I confess they don't appeal to me Well, more's the pity Well, perhaps it is none of my affair Well, that is certainly ideal! Well, this is good fortune Well, yes -- in a way Well, you are a dreamer! What a beautiful idea What a charming place you have here What a curious coincidence! What a pretty compliment! What a tempting prospect! What an extraordinary idea! What are your misgivings? What can you possibly mean? What conceivable reason is there for it? What do you imagine my course should be? What do you propose? What is the next step in your argument? What is there so strange about that? What, may I ask, is your immediate object? What unseemly levity on his part What very kind things you say to me What would you expect me to do? What you have just said is even truer than you realize What you propose is utterly impossible Who is your sagacious adviser? [sagacious = sound judgment, wise] Why ask such embarrassing questions? Why did you desert us so entirely? Why do you take it so seriously? Will you allow me to ask you a question? Will you be more explicit? Will you have the kindness to explain? Will you pardon my curiosity? Will you permit me a brief explanation? Would you apply that to everyone? Would you mind telling me your opinion? Y Yes and no Yes, but that is just what I fail to comprehend Yes, I dare say Yes, if you will be so good Yes, it was extraordinarily fine Yes, that is my earnest wish Yes, that's undeniable Yes? You were saying? You agree with me, I know You are a profound philosopher You are a severe critic You are delightfully frank You are greatly to be envied You are heartily welcome You are incomprehensible You are incorrigible You are kind and comforting You are most kind You are not consistent You are not serious, I hope You are not seriously displeased with me? You are quite delightful You are rather puzzling to-day You are right to remind me of that You are unduly distressing yourself You are very complimentary You are very gracious You're so tremendously kind about it You're succeeding admirably You're taking it all much too seriously You're talking nonsense! You're very good, I'm sure You ask me -- but I shouldn't wonder if you knew better than I do You astonish me greatly You behaved with great forbearance You can hardly be serious You cannot regret it more than I do You could not pay me a higher compliment You did it excellently You did not clearly understand what I meant You don't seem very enthusiastic You excite my curiosity You flatter my judgment You have a genius for saying the right thing You have asked me a riddle You have asked the impossible You have been wrongly informed You have done me a great service You have had a pleasant time, I hope You have my deepest sympathy You have my unbounded confidence You have received a false impression You have such an interesting way of putting things You interest me deeply You judge yourself too severely You know I'm in an agony of curiosity You know I'm not given to sentimentality You know the familiar axiom You leave no alternative You look incredulous You may be sure of my confidence You may rely on me absolutely You might make an exception You must have misunderstood me You must not fail to command me You overwhelm me with your kindness You really insist upon it? You rebuke me very fairly You say that as though you were surprised You see how widely we differ You see, it's all very vague You see things rose-colored You seem to be in a happy mood You seem to take a very mild interest in what I propose You shock me more than I can say You speak in enigmas You speak with authority You surely understand my position You take a great deal for granted You take a pessimistic view of things You take me quite by surprise You will admit I have some provocation You will become morbid if you are not careful You will have ample opportunity You will, of course, remember the incident You will please not be flippant You will understand my anxiety Your argument is facile and superficial Your consideration is entirely misplaced Your judgments are very sound Your logic is as clever as possible Your opinion will be invaluable to me Your request is granted before it is made Your statement is somewhat startling |