If you've been studying English grammar but still feel stuck when real conversations happen, you're not alone. Most learners know the rules but freeze when native speakers toss out everyday phrases.

Here's the thing: memorizing these 70 common phrases will make your English sound way more natural. These aren't fancy idioms or business jargon just the expressions people actually use when they're chatting, texting, or working together.

Everyday Conversation Starters

1. "How's it going?"

Meaning: A casual way to ask someone how they are.

Examples:

  • "Hey Sarah, how's it going? Haven't seen you in weeks."
  • "How's it going with that project you mentioned?"
  • "Not bad! How's it going with you?"

Memory trick: This is more relaxed than "How are you?" Use it with friends or coworkers you know well.

2. "What's up?"

Meaning: An informal greeting asking what someone is doing or how they are.

Examples:

  • "What's up? Want to grab lunch?"
  • "Not much, just finished work. What's up with you?"
  • "What's up? You look worried."

Pattern note: The typical response is "Not much" or "Nothing much."

3. "Long time no see"

Meaning: Said when you haven't seen someone in a while.

Examples:

  • "Long time no see! How have you been?"
  • "Wow, long time no see. Must be two years now."
  • "Long time no see, stranger!"

Memory trick: This phrase actually breaks grammar rules, but everyone uses it anyway.

4. "I'm all ears"

Meaning: You're ready and willing to listen carefully.

Examples:

  • "You wanted to talk? I'm all ears."
  • "Go ahead with your idea I'm all ears."
  • "Tell me what happened. I'm all ears."

Pronunciation tip: Stress "all" to show you're really paying attention.

5. "Catch you later"

Meaning: A casual goodbye meaning you'll see them again soon.

Examples:

  • "I've got to run. Catch you later!"
  • "Okay, catch you later at the meeting."
  • "Catch you later, Mike!"

Memory trick: It's like saying you'll "catch" them the next time you meet.

Expressing Agreement

6. "I couldn't agree more"

Meaning: You completely agree with what someone said.

Examples:

  • "This weather is perfect!" "I couldn't agree more."
  • "I couldn't agree more with your point about teamwork."
  • "That movie was brilliant." "I couldn't agree more!"

Pattern note: Use this when you want to strongly emphasize your agreement.

7. "You can say that again"

Meaning: A way to show strong agreement with a statement.

Examples:

  • "This traffic is terrible!" "You can say that again."
  • "The test was really hard." "You can say that again!"
  • "We need a break." "You can say that again."

Memory trick: Don't actually repeat what they said it's just an expression!

8. "That makes sense"

Meaning: You understand and find something logical or reasonable.

Examples:

  • "So that's why you were late. That makes sense."
  • "If we leave early, we'll avoid traffic." "Yeah, that makes sense."
  • "That makes sense now that you've explained it."

Pattern note: Super useful when someone is explaining something to you.

9. "Fair enough"

Meaning: You accept someone's point even if you don't fully agree.

Examples:

  • "I'm too tired to go out tonight." "Fair enough."
  • "Fair enough, but have you considered another option?"
  • "I see your point. Fair enough."

Memory trick: It's like saying their argument is "fair" or reasonable.

10. "I see what you mean"

Meaning: You understand someone's perspective or point.

Examples:

  • "I see what you mean about starting earlier."
  • "Oh, I see what you mean now. That's tricky."
  • "I see what you mean, but I still have some doubts."

Pattern note: Often followed by "but" if you're going to disagree politely.

Showing Disagreement (Politely)

11. "I see where you're coming from, but..."

Meaning: You understand their viewpoint before disagreeing.

Examples:

  • "I see where you're coming from, but I think we need more time."
  • "I see where you're coming from, but the data shows something different."
  • "I see where you're coming from, but have you thought about the cost?"

Memory trick: This softens disagreement by acknowledging their perspective first.

12. "I'm not so sure about that"

Meaning: A gentle way to express doubt or disagreement.

Examples:

  • "I'm not so sure about that approach."
  • "Really? I'm not so sure about that."
  • "I'm not so sure about that timeline you mentioned."

Pattern note: Way softer than saying "I disagree" or "You're wrong."

13. "That's not quite right"

Meaning: Politely correcting someone who made a mistake.

Examples:

  • "That's not quite right the meeting is at 3 PM, not 2 PM."
  • "Actually, that's not quite right. Let me explain."
  • "That's not quite right, but you're close!"

Memory trick: "Not quite" is gentler than "not right."

14. "I beg to differ"

Meaning: A formal but polite way to disagree.

Examples:

  • "I beg to differ on that point."
  • "Well, I beg to differ my experience was totally different."
  • "I beg to differ. The evidence suggests otherwise."

Pattern note: Sounds a bit old-fashioned, so use it in professional settings.

15. "Not necessarily"

Meaning: Something isn't always true or doesn't have to be that way.

Examples:

  • "So you need a degree for that job?" "Not necessarily."
  • "More expensive means better quality, right?" "Not necessarily."
  • "Not necessarily it depends on the situation."

Memory trick: Use this when someone makes an assumption you want to challenge gently.

Asking for Clarification

16. "What do you mean by that?"

Meaning: Asking someone to explain or clarify what they said.

Examples:

  • "What do you mean by that? Can you give an example?"
  • "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
  • "What do you mean by that term exactly?"

Pattern note: Useful when something sounds confusing or unclear.

17. "Could you run that by me again?"

Meaning: Asking someone to repeat what they just said.

Examples:

  • "Sorry, could you run that by me again? I got distracted."
  • "Could you run that by me again? I didn't catch the numbers."
  • "That was fast. Could you run that by me again?"

Memory trick: "Run by" means to present or explain something quickly.

18. "I didn't catch that"

Meaning: You didn't hear or understand what was said.

Examples:

  • "Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you repeat it?"
  • "I didn't catch that last part."
  • "The music was loud I didn't catch that."

Pronunciation tip: "Catch" here means to hear and understand.

19. "Can you break it down for me?"

Meaning: Asking someone to explain something in simpler terms.

Examples:

  • "This is confusing. Can you break it down for me?"
  • "Can you break it down for me step by step?"
  • "I'm not a tech person. Can you break it down for me?"

Memory trick: "Break down" means to divide into smaller, easier pieces.

20. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Meaning: Asking for an explanation, sometimes with a hint of suspicion.

Examples:

  • "You're acting weird today." "What's that supposed to mean?"
  • "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm wrong?"
  • "What's that supposed to mean exactly?"

Pattern note: Can sound defensive, so watch your tone.

Expressing Surprise

21. "No way!"

Meaning: Strong disbelief or surprise.

Examples:

  • "I just won the lottery!" "No way!"
  • "No way! I can't believe you did that."
  • "She's moving to Japan?" "No way!"

Memory trick: Very casual don't use it in formal situations.

22. "You're kidding!"

Meaning: Expressing surprise, often happy surprise.

Examples:

  • "You're kidding! That's amazing news!"
  • "They canceled the exam?" "You're kidding!"
  • "You're kidding! I was just thinking about you."

Pattern note: Also said as "You're joking!" with the same meaning.

23. "I can't believe it"

Meaning: Something is hard to accept or very surprising.

Examples:

  • "I can't believe it's already December."
  • "She said yes? I can't believe it!"
  • "I can't believe it took us this long to figure it out."

Memory trick: Can express happy surprise or disappointment depending on context.

24. "That's crazy!"

Meaning: Something is surprising, unbelievable, or extreme.

Examples:

  • "The flight was only $50!" "That's crazy!"
  • "That's crazy! How did you manage that?"
  • "He worked 20 hours straight? That's crazy."

Pattern note: "Crazy" here doesn't mean insane just surprising or impressive.

25. "Seriously?"

Meaning: Checking if someone is telling the truth or expressing disbelief.

Examples:

  • "We have to work this weekend." "Seriously?"
  • "Seriously? You've never tried pizza?"
  • "I'm serious. It really happened." "Seriously?"

Pronunciation tip: The tone changes the meaning can sound doubtful or amazed.

Making Suggestions

26. "Why don't we...?"

Meaning: A polite way to suggest doing something.

Examples:

  • "Why don't we take a break?"
  • "Why don't we try a different approach?"
  • "It's getting late. Why don't we call it a day?"

Memory trick: Softer than commanding "Let's..." because it's phrased as a question.

27. "How about...?"

Meaning: Suggesting an option or alternative.

Examples:

  • "How about meeting at 3 PM instead?"
  • "How about we order pizza tonight?"
  • "That restaurant is closed. How about the one next door?"

Pattern note: Can also be used to offer something: "How about some coffee?"

28. "What if we...?"

Meaning: Proposing an idea or possibility.

Examples:

  • "What if we postponed the meeting until next week?"
  • "What if we approached the problem differently?"
  • "What if we just told them the truth?"

Memory trick: Often used for brainstorming or creative solutions.

29. "You might want to..."

Meaning: Gentle advice or suggestion.

Examples:

  • "You might want to bring a jacket it's cold."
  • "You might want to check your email. Something important came in."
  • "You might want to reconsider that decision."

Pattern note: Less direct than "You should," so it feels more polite.

30. "Have you thought about...?"

Meaning: Suggesting someone consider an option they may not have thought of.

Examples:

  • "Have you thought about taking a different route?"
  • "Have you thought about asking for help?"
  • "Have you thought about what you'll do after graduation?"

Memory trick: Opens discussion without pushing your idea too hard.

Talking About Time

31. "In a bit"

Meaning: Soon, but not immediately.

Examples:

  • "I'll call you back in a bit."
  • "Let's finish this in a bit. I need a break."
  • "She'll be here in a bit maybe 10 minutes."

Pattern note: British speakers use this more than Americans.

32. "Right away"

Meaning: Immediately or very soon.

Examples:

  • "I'll get that done right away."
  • "Can you help me?" "Sure, I'll be there right away."
  • "We need to leave right away if we want to catch the train."

Memory trick: "Right" here means "immediately," not "correctly."

33. "Sooner or later"

Meaning: Eventually; it will happen at some point.

Examples:

  • "Don't worry, you'll figure it out sooner or later."
  • "Sooner or later, they'll realize the mistake."
  • "We all face challenges sooner or later."

Pattern note: Can refer to the near future or distant future.

34. "Once in a while"

Meaning: Occasionally; not often but sometimes.

Examples:

  • "I eat fast food once in a while, but not regularly."
  • "Once in a while, I like to take a day off and do nothing."
  • "We meet up once in a while when we're both free."

Memory trick: Similar to "from time to time" or "now and then."

35. "Day in, day out"

Meaning: Every single day; continuously and repeatedly.

Examples:

  • "He works at that desk day in, day out."
  • "Eating the same thing day in, day out gets boring."
  • "She practiced day in, day out until she perfected it."

Pattern note: Often suggests monotony or dedication.

Expressing Emotions

36. "I'm fed up with..."

Meaning: Extremely tired of or annoyed by something.

Examples:

  • "I'm fed up with this traffic every morning."
  • "I'm fed up with people being late."
  • "Honestly, I'm fed up with all the excuses."

Memory trick: Stronger than "I'm tired of" shows real frustration.

37. "I'm looking forward to..."

Meaning: Excited about something that will happen in the future.

Examples:

  • "I'm looking forward to the weekend."
  • "I'm looking forward to meeting you in person."
  • "Are you looking forward to your trip?"

Pattern note: Always followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form).

38. "I can't stand..."

Meaning: Really dislike or hate something.

Examples:

  • "I can't stand horror movies."
  • "I can't stand it when people chew loudly."
  • "She can't stand being late."

Memory trick: Stronger than "I don't like" expresses strong dislike.

39. "It drives me crazy"

Meaning: Something annoys or frustrates you a lot.

Examples:

  • "That noise drives me crazy."
  • "It drives me crazy when he leaves dishes in the sink."
  • "Waiting in long lines drives me crazy."

Pattern note: Can also say "drives me nuts" or "drives me mad."

40. "I'm over the moon"

Meaning: Extremely happy about something.

Examples:

  • "I got the job! I'm over the moon!"
  • "She's over the moon about becoming a grandmother."
  • "They were over the moon when they heard the news."

Memory trick: British expression imagine being so happy you float above the moon.

Giving Opinions

41. "If you ask me..."

Meaning: Introducing your personal opinion.

Examples:

  • "If you ask me, this plan won't work."
  • "If you ask me, she made the right decision."
  • "That's too expensive, if you ask me."

Pattern note: Often used when giving an opinion that wasn't specifically requested.

42. "As far as I'm concerned..."

Meaning: In my opinion; from my perspective.

Examples:

  • "As far as I'm concerned, the project is a success."
  • "As far as I'm concerned, we should cancel the meeting."
  • "He can do whatever he wants, as far as I'm concerned."

Memory trick: Emphasizes that this is your viewpoint specifically.

43. "To be honest..."

Meaning: Introducing a frank or sincere statement.

Examples:

  • "To be honest, I didn't enjoy the movie."
  • "To be honest, I have no idea what to do."
  • "To be honest with you, I think you're making a mistake."

Pattern note: Often used before saying something slightly negative or personal.

44. "The way I see it..."

Meaning: From my point of view or perspective.

Examples:

  • "The way I see it, we have two options."
  • "The way I see it, honesty is always best."
  • "The way I see it, you did nothing wrong."

Memory trick: Signals you're about to share your interpretation or opinion.

45. "In my experience..."

Meaning: Based on what has happened to me personally.

Examples:

  • "In my experience, practice makes perfect."
  • "In my experience, the earlier you start, the better."
  • "Those products don't last long, in my experience."

Pattern note: Adds credibility by referring to personal knowledge.

Dealing With Problems

46. "Don't worry about it"

Meaning: Telling someone not to be concerned; it's not a problem.

Examples:

  • "Sorry I'm late!" "Don't worry about it."
  • "Don't worry about it we can fix it later."
  • "I broke your pen." "Don't worry about it. I have more."

Memory trick: Common response when someone apologizes for something small.

47. "It's no big deal"

Meaning: Something isn't important or serious.

Examples:

  • "Thanks for your help!" "It's no big deal."
  • "I spilled a little water." "It's no big deal, just wipe it up."
  • "It's no big deal if we're a few minutes late."

Pattern note: Reassures someone that a mistake or problem is minor.

48. "Let's call it a day"

Meaning: Stop working; end an activity for today.

Examples:

  • "It's 6 PM. Let's call it a day."
  • "We've done enough. Let's call it a day."
  • "I'm exhausted. Can we call it a day?"

Memory trick: Literally means to declare the day finished.

49. "Hang in there"

Meaning: Keep trying; don't give up during a difficult time.

Examples:

  • "I know it's tough, but hang in there."
  • "Hang in there! You're almost done."
  • "Finals week is hard. Just hang in there for a few more days."

Pattern note: Encouraging phrase showing support.

50. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it"

Meaning: Deal with a problem when it actually happens, not before.

Examples:

  • "What if we run out of money?" "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
  • "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Let's focus on now."
  • "Don't worry about that yet. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Memory trick: Means don't worry about future problems that may never happen.

Making Decisions

51. "It's up to you"

Meaning: You can decide; the choice is yours.

Examples:

  • "Where should we eat?" "It's up to you."
  • "It's up to you whether you want to come or not."
  • "The decision is up to you."

Pattern note: Can also say "It's your call" with the same meaning.

52. "I'm on the fence"

Meaning: Undecided; can't choose between options.

Examples:

  • "Are you coming to the party?" "I'm on the fence about it."
  • "I'm on the fence between the blue car and the red one."
  • "I'm still on the fence. I need more time to think."

Memory trick: Picture sitting on a fence between two yards you're between two choices.

53. "Sleep on it"

Meaning: Take time to think about a decision overnight.

Examples:

  • "Don't decide now. Sleep on it."
  • "It's a big decision. You should sleep on it."
  • "I'll sleep on it and let you know tomorrow."

Pattern note: Suggests waiting before making an important choice.

54. "Take your time"

Meaning: Don't rush; you have plenty of time.

Examples:

  • "Take your time. There's no hurry."
  • "Take your time deciding. It's important."
  • "I'm still looking at the menu." "Take your time!"

Memory trick: Reassuring phrase that removes pressure.

55. "Let's play it by ear"

Meaning: Decide what to do as things develop rather than planning ahead.

Examples:

  • "What time should we meet?" "Let's play it by ear."
  • "We don't need a strict plan. Let's just play it by ear."
  • "Let's play it by ear and see how we feel tomorrow."

Pattern note: Suggests flexibility and spontaneity.

Showing Understanding

56. "I know what you mean"

Meaning: You understand someone's point or feeling.

Examples:

  • "This weather is awful." "Yeah, I know what you mean."
  • "I know what you mean. I've felt that way too."
  • "I know what you mean about being tired of your job."

Memory trick: Shows empathy and understanding.

57. "I feel you"

Meaning: Casual way to show you understand or relate to someone.

Examples:

  • "I'm so stressed about exams." "I feel you."
  • "I feel you. That sounds really frustrating."
  • "Monday mornings are the worst." "I feel you on that."

Pattern note: Very casual use with friends, not in professional settings.

58. "I get it"

Meaning: You understand the situation or explanation.

Examples:

  • "So you need to be there by 5 PM." "I get it."
  • "I get it. You're busy."
  • "Yeah, I get it now. Thanks for explaining."

Memory trick: Quick, casual way to confirm understanding.

59. "That makes two of us"

Meaning: You feel the same way or are in the same situation.

Examples:

  • "I'm exhausted." "That makes two of us."
  • "I have no idea what's going on." "That makes two of us!"
  • "I could really use a vacation." "That makes two of us."

Pattern note: Shows solidarity with someone's feeling or situation.

60. "Been there, done that"

Meaning: You've experienced the same thing before.

Examples:

  • "I'm thinking about studying abroad." "Been there, done that. It's amazing."
  • "This job is so stressful." "Been there, done that."
  • "Been there, done that. Let me give you some advice."

Memory trick: Can sound dismissive, so be careful with tone.

Talking About Change

61. "Turn over a new leaf"

Meaning: Start behaving better or make a fresh start.

Examples:

  • "After failing last semester, he's turned over a new leaf."
  • "I'm turning over a new leaf and exercising every day."
  • "She turned over a new leaf and quit smoking."

Memory trick: Like turning to a fresh page in a book.

62. "Get the ball rolling"

Meaning: Start something; begin a process.

Examples:

  • "Let's get the ball rolling on this project."
  • "Who wants to get the ball rolling with the first question?"
  • "To get the ball rolling, I'll share my ideas first."

Pattern note: Emphasizes starting momentum or action.

63. "Back to square one"

Meaning: Starting over from the beginning, usually after a setback.

Examples:

  • "The deal fell through. We're back to square one."
  • "My computer crashed and I lost everything. Back to square one."
  • "If this doesn't work, we're back to square one."

Memory trick: "Square one" is like the first square on a board game.

64. "A breath of fresh air"

Meaning: Something new and refreshing; a welcome change.

Examples:

  • "After the old boss, having her here is a breath of fresh air."
  • "This new approach is a breath of fresh air."
  • "Meeting someone so genuine was a breath of fresh air."

Pattern note: Always positive implies improvement or pleasant change.

65. "Mix things up"

Meaning: Change your routine or do something different.

Examples:

  • "Let's mix things up and try a new restaurant."
  • "I'm bored with my routine. I need to mix things up."
  • "The teacher mixed things up with a fun activity."

Memory trick: Like mixing ingredients combining different elements.

Final Essential Phrases

66. "For the time being"

Meaning: Temporarily; for now.

Examples:

  • "This will work for the time being."
  • "For the time being, let's stick with the original plan."
  • "I'm staying with my parents for the time being."

Pattern note: Suggests something isn't permanent.

67. "Get out of hand"

Meaning: Become uncontrollable or chaotic.

Examples:

  • "The party got out of hand when too many people showed up."
  • "Don't let your spending get out of hand."
  • "The argument got out of hand quickly."

Memory trick: Like something slipping out of your grip.

68. "Keep an eye on..."

Meaning: Watch or monitor something carefully.

Examples:

  • "Can you keep an eye on my bag while I'm gone?"
  • "Keep an eye on the time. We need to leave soon."
  • "I'm keeping an eye on the weather forecast."

Pattern note: Doesn't mean literally watching just being aware.

69. "Out of the blue"

Meaning: Unexpectedly; without warning.

Examples:

  • "She called me out of the blue after five years."
  • "Out of the blue, he decided to quit his job."
  • "The idea came to me out of the blue."

Memory trick: Like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky.

70. "Better late than never"

Meaning: It's better to do something late than not at all.

Examples:

  • "I finally finished my degree at 40." "Better late than never!"
  • "Sorry I'm late with this." "Better late than never."
  • "I should have learned this earlier, but better late than never."

Pattern note: Often used to encourage someone or excuse a delay.

Practice Exercises

Now that you've seen all 70 phrases, try testing yourself!

Fill in the Blanks

  1. I'm so excited about the trip tomorrow. I'm really __ to it.
  2. "The project failed." "Well, I guess we're __ to square one."
  3. If you're not sure about the decision, you should __ on it.
  4. "This coffee is cold!" "__ that again!"
  5. Can you __ an eye on my laptop while I get coffee?
  6. Let me know when you're ready, and we'll __ the ball rolling.
  7. She hasn't called in weeks, but she texted me __ of the blue today.
  8. I haven't decided yet. I'm still __ the fence.
  9. "Mondays are exhausting." "That __ two of us."
  10. Don't stress about future problems. We'll cross that __ when we come to it.

Answers: 1. looking forward 2. back 3. sleep 4. You can say 5. keep 6. get 7. out 8. on 9. makes 10. bridge

Sentence Building Challenge

Use these phrases to write your own sentences:

  • "once in a while"
  • "fair enough"
  • "I'm fed up with"
  • "hang in there"

Your Turn to Practice

Most learners stumble when trying to use these phrases naturally at first. Don't worry if they feel awkward your brain needs time to get comfortable with new expressions.

Here's what really helps: pick five phrases from this list that you think you'll use most often. Write them on sticky notes or save them in your phone. Try to use at least one every day this week in real conversations or when you're texting friends.

You'll notice something interesting. Once you start using one phrase naturally, the others become easier to remember. Your brain starts recognizing the patterns, and soon you won't even have to think about it.

Keep this list somewhere you can review it. Come back to it once in a while and see how many you remember. The goal isn't to memorize all 70 at once it's to slowly build them into your everyday English until they feel like second nature.

So what's the takeaway? These phrases are tools. The more you practice using them, the more natural your English will sound. Start small, be patient with yourself, and watch how much more confident you become in conversations.