BASIC PHRASES YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO KNOW TO BUILD A CONVERSATION

I) STARTING A CONVERSATION

- How is it going? = How are things? = What's up? = How's everything with you?

- Fine thanks = I'm good = Couldn't be better = Can't complain = It's going good = Good. You? = Good, thanks. And yourself?

- Not too bad! = Pretty good! Yourself?

- I'm A-Okay = I'm A-One = I'm peachy = I'm doing well = I'm doing just great = I'm doing well and good = I feel fantastic = I feel great = I feel good = I'm mirth-inspired

- I'm walking on air = I'm over the moon = I'm on cloud nine = I'm in seventh heaven = I'm flying high = I'm gleeful = I'm overjoyed = I'm mirthful = I'm blissful

- I'm doing alright = I'm doing good = I'm doing fine = I'm doing okay

- Howdy! = Hi! = Howdy there! = Hi there!

- You haven't changed much physically after so many years. You never age, do you?

- Look who's talking, you are the same. Years just don't seem to have a toll on you!

- How's your day going? = What's going on? = What's new? = How's your day treating you? = How are things going? = What are you up to?

- I'm full of beans = I'm in the best of form = I'm in high spirits = I'm high-spirited = I'm sprightly = I'm sparky = I'm frisky = I'm zestful = I'm peppy = I'm bright-eyed and bushy-tailed = I'm full of ginger = I'm full of pep = I'm perky

- I feel under the weather = I'm off-colour = I'm below par = I'm not in good shape = I feel out of sorts = I feel down = I'm under par = I'm not up to snuff = I'm not up to par = I'm queasy 

- Just taking it one day at a time

- Things are going great = I'm good just catching up on some work = I'm doing just fine. 

- What's the latest with you? = How's your day treating you?

- Not too bad, just the usual = Pretty good, I'm just handling some tasks. 

- What's new on your end? = How's everything going with you? = What's going on with you?

- Everything is good on my end! = Things are looking up!

- Likewise = Just the same = Equally = In a similar manner = In the same degree = By the same token 

- It's been a long time! = Long time no see! = I haven't seen you in ages! = I haven't seen you for years! = I haven't seen you for a long time = It's been too long = It's been a while

- Indeed! = Truly! = By all means! = Certainly! = For sure! 

- Glad to see you again = Glad to see you back = Lovely to see you again = Delighted to see you again

- How nice to see you again = How great to see you again = Such a pleasure to see you again

- What's been on your plate lately? = How have you been lately? = How's life been treating you lately? = What's been keeping you busy? = How's your life been shaping up?

- What have you been up to? = What do you have going on today? = What do you have planned?

- Just hanging out = Nothing much = Not much

- I've been very busy and there have been changes in my personal life: I got married and I had a child

- Congratulations on your new family life! = Kudos on your new family life! = Outstanding job on your new family life! = Well done on your new family life!

- And what about you? = And how about you?

- Same old, same old. There hasn't been much going on for me as I still have the same job and live in the same area

- Is the family doing fine? = Is the family okay?

- Yes, the family is doing fine = Yes, the family is okay = Yes, the family is alright 

- How was your weekend? = How did your weekend go? = What was your weekend like?

- My weekend went well = My weekend was good = My weekend was okay = My weekend went off fine

- And you, what were you up to last weekend? 

- I didn't do much. I was just hanging out with a few friends.

- We went to the south of France for the weekend on Friday evening and returned to the north on Sunday afternoon. 

- Was it nice over there? = Was it nice down there? = Was it nice right over there? = Was it nice over yonder?

- Not quite with the south wind blowing like crazy and the forest fire warnings, it was quite. We had to be on our toes throughout the vacation period.

- But hey, we still enjoyed the sun and the beach.

II) GETTING SOMEONE TO REPEAT

- Sorry, I didn't get that = Sorry I didn't catch that 

- Can you come again, please? = Can you say that again = How is that again? = What did you say? = Can you repeat please? = Repeat please?

- No worries, I'll repeat that for you

- Is that alright now, did you get my point?

- Yes, I got the gist of it = I got the picture = I got the idea = I got the message

- What do you mean? = What are you trying to say? = What do you intend?

- I got most of it = I grasped most of it = I understood the global conversation 

- What's the English (word) for not quite understand something?

- I understood part of what you said = I understood bits of what you said 

III) SAYING THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND OR THAT YOU STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND

- Sorry to bother you, but:

- I didn't get it = I didn't get it straight = I got the wrong end of the stick = I got the wrong idea about it = I took it the wrong way = I got it wrong = I got the wrong impression = I got signals crossed 

- Can you say that one more time? = Can you say that once more?

- No worries, I'll say it again and more slowly

- Did you get it this time? = Did you get the hang of it? = Did you grasp it?

- Yes, I did because you repeated slowly and time and again.

- Basically, you were asking me what I did for a living, right?

- That's correct = That's right = That's okay = That's alright (US) = That's all right (UK)

- Well, I'm still a student, in my final year of business school. 

- After graduating at the end of the year, I would like to find a job as a sales director in a large international company. This way, I will be able to use my English regularly to progress

- I see what you are getting at = I see what you are driving at = I see what you are aiming at

IV) TAKING LEAVE OF SOMEONE

- It almost 2 pm and I have to go otherwise I'll be late for work.

- I'm leaving = I'm heading out = I'm out of here = I'm making tracks = I'm calling it a day = I'm done here = It's time for me to go = I'm signing off = I must be going = I'm making my exit = I'm saying my goodbyes = I'm on my way

- See you later = Catch you later = Look forward to seeing you again = Can't wait to see you again = Be seeing you again = Be seeing you later

- Take care of yourself! (plural: Take care of yourselves!) = Look after yourself! (plural: Look after yourselves!) = Mind how you go! 

- It was a pleasure for me to see you again = Wonderful to have seen you again = Delighted to have crossed paths again = It was a joy to see your face again = Thrilled we had the chance to meet up again = It's been nice bumping into you after so many years

- When can we see each other again? = When can we cross paths again? = When can we meet up again? = When shall we see each other again?

- Well, I can't really say when we can see each other again because I travel a lot for business 

- Well, let's swap cell phone numbers and we'll get in touch in the coming days or weeks.  

- This sounds like a great idea!

- Can you find your way out of here?

- Ah yes, I'll manage with the GPS

- All right then! = Well and good! = It's all good = That settles it then = That solves the problem then

- See you soon and don't be a stranger!

- I will give you news from time to time - I will give you news every off and on = I will give you news more often 

- Give my regards to your family = Send my regards to your family = Say hello to your family for me = Say hello to your family on my part = Say hello to your family on my behalf

- I will = I intend to = I plan to = I am going to

V) THANKING SOMEONE

- Thank you for your time = Expressing thanks for your time = Showing gratitude for your time

- Many thanks for your time and attention = Thank you so much for your time = I sincerely appreciate your time

- I appreciate your time = Thank you so much for your time

- I must sincerely thank you for helping me out = My sincerest thanks for your help

- It was great chatting with you = It was great discussing with you = It was great conversing with you 

- And I'd like to thank you also for bailing me out in English and bearing with me

- Don't mention it = Not at all = You're welcome

- The pleasure is all mine! = My pleasure! = It's my pleasure!

- We keep in touch = We stay in touch = Shall we keep in touch?

VI) WISHING SOMEONE WELL

- Have a nice day = Have a good day = Have a great day = Enjoy your day

- Have a good trip = Have a nice trip = Enjoy your trip = Enjoy your journey = Make the most of your trip = Make the most of your journey

- Have a good trip back = Have a nice trip back = Have a great trip back = Enjoy your trip back = Enjoy your journey back

- Wishing you a wonderful day = May your day be filled with joy and happiness

- Make the most of your day = Have a productive day = Have a fantastic day = Have a fabulous day = Have an incredible day

- Actually, I'm not driving this week, I'm taking the train 

- Why don't you have your car, where is it (at)?

- My car is being repaired at the brand's repair shop because I had a serious flat (puncture in  UK) which was completely torn off by a concrete block spanning the road

VII) PLAN TO MEET AGAIN

- When will we see each other again? = When will we bump into each other again?

- That will be a great idea. It's up to you really. We can go out with your friends and my friends just to get to know each other?

- Okay. Deal! Choose a day and time that suits you

- We can get together next time to run the semi-marathon. Are you doing well, healthwise?

- Everything is fine with me = Everything is going alright in my end

- Other than that, let's meet up when we get the chance. We'll go for lunch at Unik kebab restaurant. Okay for you? 

- My answer is that it suits me = I can't find anything wrong with it

- How does that sound? = What do you say to that?

- My answer is I like the sound of it = It sounds good to me