say

phrases

• someone can’t say (something)

  spoken
  1. 1

     a polite way of saying that you do not know something

     We can’t say when the train will arrive.

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  2. 2

     a polite way of saying that you do not want to give information to someone

     We can’t say what’s in the report – it’s highly confidential.

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  3. 3

     used for saying that you do not have a particular opinion

     I can’t say I blame you for being annoyed.

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• can’t say fairer than that

  British informal
  used for saying that an offer is the best that can be expected

  Look, I won’t charge you for delivery; you can’t say fairer than that.

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• go without saying (that)

  to be completely obvious or true

  It goes without saying that I’m sorry.

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• have something to say to someone/about something

  to be angry with someone or about something

  ‘Uh-oh,’ said Jimmy. ‘Mum’s going to have something to say to you.’

  The boss will have something to say about this.

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• have something/a lot/nothing etc to say for yourself

  to be fairly/very/not at all keen to talk, especially about yourself and your reasons for doing something

  He didn’t have a lot to say for himself.

  She’s always got far too much to say for herself.

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• having said that

  spoken
  used for adding an opinion that seems to be the opposite of what you have just said, although you think both are true

  It’s expensive. Having said that, I must admit that it is very well made.

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• I must say (that)

  or I have to say (that) spoken

  used for emphasizing a statement

  I’m not very impressed, I must say.

  I must say that the standard of play was abysmal.

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• I say

  British old-fashioned
  1. 1

     used for attracting someone’s attention

     I say, would you mind coming at once?

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  2. 2

     used for emphasizing a statement

     I say, I’m awfully sorry.

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  3. 3

     used for expressing surprise, shock, anger etc

     Oh, I say! Is that the time already?

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• I wouldn’t say no (to something)

  spoken
  used for admitting that you would like something, especially something that has been offered to you

  I wouldn’t say no to another piece of cake.

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• if I may say (so)

  spoken formal
  used for introducing a personal comment when you know that the person you are speaking to may find this offensive

  I think, if I may say so, that this isn’t the right thing to do.

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• I’ll say

  old-fashioned
  used for expressing agreement, or for saying yes in a very definite way

  ‘She’s very pretty.’ ‘I’ll say!’

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• (just) say the word

  spoken
  used for telling someone that you are ready to do something for them as soon as they ask

  We can go whenever you like. Just say the word.

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• not to say

  used for adding a description that emphasizes the one that you have just used

  It would be a foolish, not to say ruinous, step to take at this time.

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• say it all

  used for saying that something shows very clearly what someone’s feelings are or what a particular situation is really like

  The look of satisfaction on his face says it all.

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• say a lot/very little etc for

  to show that someone or something has a lot/very little etc of a particular quality

  It says a lot for him that he never gave up.

  It doesn’t say much for my powers of observation that I had no idea what was going on.

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• say no more

  spoken
  used for saying that you understand the hidden meaning of something and do not need any more details

  ‘She’s invited Carl to her party.’ ‘Say no more!’

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• say this/that for someone

  used for admitting that someone who you do not approve of has a good quality

  I’ll say this for her: she’s never lied to me.

  He’s very clever: you have to say that for him.

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• say something to yourself

  to have something in your mind, especially something that you are trying to make yourself believe is true

  ‘This is the real thing,’ he said to himself.

  say something to yourself (that): say to yourself (that):

  I keep saying to myself that I shouldn’t do it.

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• say what you like (about)

  spoken
  used for mentioning a good quality of someone or something that is not liked or approved of by other people

  Say what you like about him, he knows how to run a business.

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• say when

  spoken
  used for telling someone to tell you when you have given them enough of something, especially food or drink

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• say your piece

  to say what you really think about something

  Right, I’ve said my piece, so now you know what I think.

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• shall I/we say

  spoken formal
  used for making a statement or criticism seem less severe or offensive

  His loyalty to that man is, shall we say, misguided.

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• that is to say

  formal
  used for explaining something that you have just said in a more exact way

  I’ll deal with the second point first, that is to say the change to the club’s rules.

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• that said

  spoken
  used for adding an opinion that seems to be the opposite of what you have just said, although you think both are true

  The economy is struggling. That said, house prices rose slightly last month.

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• that’s/it’s easier said than done

  used for telling someone that what they are advising you to do is not easy to achieve

  He told me not to worry, but that’s easier said than done.

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• that’s not saying much

  used for emphasizing that something is not very unusual, surprising, or impressive

  It’s better than the old one, but that’s not saying much.

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• that’s not to say (that)

  used for adding a statement that corrects what you have just said or makes it less definite

  So far, no one’s been sacked, but that’s not to say it won’t happen.

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• there’s something/a lot/not much etc to be said for something

  used for saying that there are some/many/few etc advantages in doing something

  There’s something to be said for his approach to the problem.

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• though/if I say it myself

  or though/if I say so myself

  used when you do not want to seem too proud of your own ability or achievement

  Although I say it myself, I think I’m rather good at this.

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• to say the least

  used for saying that you could have expressed something in a much stronger way

  I found the flight rather uncomfortable, to say the least.

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• to say nothing of

  used for adding extra information to what you have just said

  Pollution affects the soil, to say nothing of its impact on wildlife.

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• what do you say I/we do something?

  spoken
  used for making a suggestion

  What do you say we get a flat together?

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• what have you got to say for yourself?

  spoken
  used for asking someone what explanation or excuse they have for their bad behaviour

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• what someone says goes

  used for emphasizing that a particular person has the power to decide what happens in a situation

  Around here, what he says goes.

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• what would someone say to something?

  spoken
  used for asking whether someone would accept a suggestion

  What would you say to a nice long holiday?

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• when all is said and done

  mainly spoken
  when you consider the whole of a situation, and not just one aspect of it

  When all was said and done it was only a game, not real life.

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• who can say?

  spoken
  used for saying that no one knows the answer to a particular question or knows what will happen in the future

  Who can say what will happen to the company?

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• who says?

  spoken
  used for expressing disagreement with a statement, opinion etc

  ‘But you won’t get the job anyway.’ ‘Who says I won’t?’

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• who’s/what’s to say (that)?

  spoken
  used for saying that something is not certain because no one knows exactly what has happened or what is going to happen

  Who’s to say he wouldn’t have said yes if he’d known?

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• you can say that again

  spoken
  used for expressing strong agreement with what someone has said

  ‘This is so boring!’ ‘You can say that again!’

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• you don’t say

  spoken
  1. 1

     used for saying that you are surprised by what someone has told you

     ‘He’s just won the lottery.’ ‘You don’t say!’

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  2. 2

     used for saying that you are not surprised by what someone has told you

     ‘He phoned in sick again this morning.’ ‘You don’t say!’

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• you said it

  spoken
  1. 1

     used for agreeing with what someone has said although you would not have said it yourself, especially when they admit they have done something bad or wrong

     ‘I’ve made a terrible mess of this.’ ‘You said it.’

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  2. 2

     American used for agreeing with a suggestion that someone has made

     ‘Why don’t we have something to eat first?’ ‘You said it!’

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