Conversation Resume for Small Talk

Greetings

• Hi there!

• How are things going?

• How is your week/day going?

• What are you working on recently?

• What did you do over the weekend?

• Any exciting plans for the weekend/hoilday?

• Any plan on the upcoming weekend?

• I haven’t seen you in years!

• Long time no see!

• Welcome back, it’s been a while!

• Where have you been?

• What a suprise to meet you here!

• fancy meeting you here!

• I am sorry, I haven’t forgetten your name

• what brings you here?

Answer thanks for asking this

• you are welcome, I hope everything is going well with your family.

Expressing state of health and happiness

• I am cool
• couldn’t be better
• All right
• No complaints/kəmˈpleɪnt/

How you have been doing - positive

• Keep myself busy
• Keep myself out of trouble

Neutral/ˈnuːtrəl/

• so-so
• same as always/usual

Negative

• Not very well
• Could be better
• I am feeling low
• I am depressed
• I am out of sorts

Busy state

• I don’t have time to think/breathe/briːð/

Inviting

• do you have time for coffee?
• let’s go for a drink

Introduction

• I’d like you to meet xx
• have you two been introduced?

Ending conversation

• nice chatting with you, but I really must go

• let’s do lunch sometime(改天，某时)

• need to go now, we will talk sometime

• can I call you back? something has come up (not come up with!)

• have to get back to my work, will call again later

• I will let you go/drop, no reason to keep you here

• I am out of time, have to say good-bye now

Leaving a place

• are we ready to leave?
• drive carefully
• take care

Agreeing

• yup
• I couldn’t agree with you more

Acceptance

• this is perfect
• it couldn’t be better

You understand

• I hear/got you
• Gotcha

You understand?

• Do you know/see what I mean?
• Do you get the picture?

Disagreeing

• I don’t think so
• Don’t jump/rush to conclusions

Categorical/ˌkætə’ɡɔrɪkl/ disagree: unambiguously explicit and direct

• that’s not true

• you are dead wrong

• that’s insane/ɪnˈseɪn/, crazy

Rejection

• it’s not for me
• it’s not my style

Coming to the point of matter

• let me be perfectly clear
• here’s the bottom line: major point

Requesting the speaker get to the point

• what’s the bottom line?
• what’s your point?

Noting a digression/ai/ in a conversation

• that’s irrelevant
• that’s another story
• off-topic
• you are getting off the topic
• getting back to the point

Repeat

• let me repeat myself

• to reiterate, xxx

• let me rephrase that

Answer how do you know

• news travels fast (rumor, gossip)

Social join

• is the seat taken?
• are you free saturday evening?

Encouraging to try something

• let’s see some action
• are you just going to stand there all day?

Be patient and take things slowly

• take things as they come
• one step at a time, do it slowly

Be prudent/ˈpruːdnt/

• cautious/careful/thoughtful
• vs deliberate(more negative)

too busy

• you are overcommitted
• you are overdoing it: exhaust oneself by overwork

Forgetfulness

• Where was I?
• I have lost my thought
• brain freeze

No money

• my pockets are empty
• I am bankrupt

Stress and anxiety

• I am going crazy

• I am burning out

• I am on fire

• calm/kɑːm/ down

• slow down

• don’t lose sleep over it

Stating that sth is settled

• it is certain
• nothing can go wrong
• it is going to happen

Claim/eim/ sth is easy to understand

• of course, that goes without saying

Showing disbelief

• I remain skeptical
• unbelievable

Expressing reluctance

• I’d rather not
• I’m afraid not

Knowing something after the fact

• I should have known
• it is easy to be wise after the event

Expressing indifference: lack of interest

• I don’t care
• either way
• it does not matter to me
• makes no difference to me
• up to you
• whatever you prefer

Response to request

• as you requested …
• with your comfort in mind …

Asking if speaking a language

• do you speak english?

tell time

• it is 12 noon

• it is noon

• it is midnight

• it is 10 after three

• it is 10 past three

• it is three 15

• it is three 30

• it is 10 mins to four

Time accurate

• the clock is fast/slow

Moving pass

• coming throuth
• could I get by, please
• after you

forgiveness

• it’s ok, forget it
• don’t worry about it

Invited

• how should I dress? casual or formal

• do I need to bring anything?

• I’ll be there by 7pm

• sorry I am late

• sorry to have kept you waiting

Inviting

• please make yourself at home
• make yourself comfortable
• the food is over there, please help yourself

Late

• I lost track of time

• I overslept

• I got detoured/ˈdiːtʊr/

• the last meeting ran over, so I am running late for my next appointment

• I had to run an errand/ˈerənd/, personal errand

• The bus was late

• I’m glad you started without me

• you should have started without me

Weather

• The air is muggy/humid/ˈhjuːmɪd/
• what a snowstorm/blizzard/'blɪzɚd/
• it is foggy, smoggy
• it is windy
• it is sweltering/ˈs well tərɪŋ/: uncomfortably hot
• turn on the air conditioner

Crowded place

• I’m getting claustrophobic/ˌklɔːsterˈfoʊbɪk/
• There’s no room to breathe/ri/
• Would you like to go somewhere less crowded?

Preparing to leave home

• do we have everything?

Return soon

• I’ll be gone just a few minutes.
• I’ll be back by ten.

Preparing to leave a host or hostess

• Time flies when you’re having fun.
• Thank you for having/inviting us.

Saying good-bye to departing guests

• It is been delightful/dɪˈlaɪtfl/
• We have to do this again sometime.

Leaving things as they are

• let things/it be

Warnings

• watch out!
• Be prepared!
• On your left!
• Caution!
• Coming through 借过

Giving and receiving

• What goes around, comes around. 种豆得豆，种瓜得瓜
• One thing leads to another. 一发不可收拾

nostalgia/nəˈstældʒə/

• when I was your age …

additional unspecified things

• and so on so forth

out of order

• it is out of order/service: not working properly, not in a correct sequence.

• it is out of commission: not in working order, not in service

• out of: 1. source; 2. not having

concerning difficult

• it is not easy as it seems

physical feelings

• sneezy 喷嚏
• itchy /'ɪtʃi/
• allergy/'ælɚdʒi/, allergic/əˈlɜːrdʒɪk/
• vomit/'vɑmɪt/ 呕吐
• headache
• dizzy 晕眩的
• nap/næp/

asking for food

• what’s to eat?
• what are we having?

secind servings

• more water, please
• what’s for dessert/dɪˈzɜːrt/ (vs desert)
• my friend will be along shortly: be arrive

restaurants

• a nonsmoking table for two

• we are waiting for another couple/ˈkʌpl/.

• I’m sorry, we’re out of that. (stock out)

• need a couple more minutes to decide.

• ready to order.

• steak: rare, medium-rare, medium, medium-well, well-done

• carryout/to go, please

Personal

• Nice weahter we’re having

• The food is good, isn’t it?

• when did you arrive?

• where are you from?

• How did you get here, flight or driving?

• Where did you go to school, what major you learned?

• What do you do for work?

• Do you have family here? How is your family?

• How long have you lived at your current location? What do you like about it?

• How long have you worked at your current job?

• Have you ever been to xxx?

• Do you have any pets? What kind?

• Do you have any hobbies you enjoy in your free/leisure time?

• what’s your biggest passion outside of work?

• Have you seen any good movies or TV shows recently?

• Have you tried any interesting apps or gadgets/ˈɡædʒɪt/ recently?

• Do you have any favorite artists or types of art?

• Where did you get that xxx ? I really like it!

Notable

• What are your five most unique experiences?
• What are your five most personally significant accomplishments?
• Name the 10 things you cannot live without?
• What is the biggest regret/rɪˈɡret/ in your career?
• What is your biggest lesson learned in your career?

Staying current:

• What are the top five current events of the week and month? Learn the basic and develop an opinion and stance/stæns/ on them.
• have you heard the latest?
• What are the four most funny personal situations from the past week?
• What are the four interesting things you have heard or read about in past week?