Last Saturday I was talking on Zoom to a student from Greece.
After I answered his question, he thanked me.
Then, instead of “Goodbye” or “Have a nice day,” he used an expression I usually only hear from native speakers from America.
He said, “Take it easy.”
“Nice,” I thought. This guy has been watching TV and paying attention.
(My definition of “native-speaker expression” is something that you don’t learn in text books, but native speakers use every day.)
Another example: the British, instead of “Thank you,” say, “Cheers.”
I like that, too.
What do you like?
What are some of your favorite native-speaker expressions?
Share them in the comments and we’ll continue this conversation tomorrow.
Second to none.
Great! (and in case it’s new for some readers, it means “the best”)
I like this way of responding: Don’t mention it!
and another phrase is: Hang in there!
Both good one!
I’m a homebody
Have a ball
Break a leg
If I want to end a discussion on messenger, I say sometimes:
”I leave you now. We will talk”.
Instead of ”Good morning”, simply: ”Morning”
Anyway, the morning is the best time of the day for me.
In South Africa, we say ‘howzit’ for how are you
I like the Essex expression ( I am actualy not sure if it comes from Essex) for See you…..which is Cheers,safe,laters…. 😄
I like “see you soon” or “see you later”.
I often hear people saying goodbye to each other with “have a good one!” I like it too.
Once in a blue moon
Keep in touch
I “dunno” what my favourite native-speaker expression is… they are “all Greek to me” (which is an interesting one because in my language we say “it is a Spanish village to me” – so I just wonder what is the origin of that phrase – but that might need some digging in history of a country, not just linguistic research).
A couple different countries say “Spanish village.” I also wonder where that came from…