Not going to sugarcoat it

If you're not going to 'sugarcoat' something, it means you're going to be frank and direct about some bad news, without trying to soften it.

Example:
-Well, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. You have to lose weight.
-You're right, Dr. Smith. I know you're right.

In a safe place.

If you have something you don't want to lose, you might put it in a safe place. Sometimes, however, you put it in such a 'safe place' that later you can't find it.

Example:
-Do you have the tickets for tonight?
-I put them in a safe place and now I can't find them.

Step up to the plate

If you 'step up to the plate,' it means that you finally do something that needs doing, possibly something you've been avoiding, or you take responsibility for something you've done. It's a reference to baseball, where a player steps up to home plate to bat.

Example:
-I really need to tell my friend that I took her money.
-Time to step up to the plate!

See you later, alligator!

'See you later, alligator!' is something parents and grandparents say to little kids. The response from the child is, "After while, crocodile!"

Example:
-See you later, alligator!
-After while, crocodile!

Speak of the devil!

When a person has been talking about someone, and then that person suddenly appears, the person can say, "Speak of the devil!" If you walk up to a group of people and someone says this, you know they've been talking about you.

Example:
-What is Patrick going to do after he graduates?
-Well, first he wants to do some traveling with some friends, and then he'll move to Manhattan to.... Speak of the devil! How are you, Patrick?

Shoes and socks

Parents often tell their children, "Go put on your shoes and socks!" It doesn't really make sense since you put your socks on first and then your shoes, but that's how American English speakers say it.

-Okay, kiddos, put on your shoes and socks!
-We are!

Slept like a rock

If you 'slept like a rock,' it means that you had a great night's sleep and feel well-rested.

Example:
-How did you sleep?
-I slept like a rock! I feel great!

Suck it up

'Suck it up' is used when you want to be supportive or tell someone to get over it when they're in an unfair or frustrating situation that they can do nothing about.

Example:
-it's not fair!
-I hear you. But I think you're just going to have to suck it up. Sorry.

Soccer mom

A 'soccer mom' is a mom who lives in the suburbs, stays at home (doesn't work outside the home), drives a minivan and takes her kids to soccer practice, piano lessons or Scouts -- any kind of after school activity.

The term is slightly pejorative, as it implies the mom doesn't really do anything important -- she just drives her kids around. Still, there are enough soccer moms around that the term was coined.

Example:
-I'm such the little soccer mom!
-Ha ha! Me, too!

Same old, same old

'Same old, same old' is a rather unenthusiastic and perhaps somewhat negative response to the question, "How are you?" It means that nothing has really changed.

Example:
-So, how are you doing? I haven't seen you in such a long time!
-Oh, you know. Same old, same old.

Side-tracked

'Side-tracked' is an adjective used to describe when a person is doing one thing, gets interrupted or distracted, and goes on to do something else, forgetting the first thing.

Example:
-I started to clean my room, but then I saw an old photo album and got side-tracked.

Small-business Saturday

'Small-business Saturday' was started by small businesses in the last 10 years or so to encourage shoppers to support the small 'mom and pop' stores, instead of the giant, big-box chains. It is the day after 'Black Friday.'

-Support your local stores! Shop on Small-business Saturday!

Shout, yell or scream?

'Shout' and 'yell' are synonyms that can be used when describing what someone does when they raise their voice extremely loud in order to be heard.

'Scream' is similar, but it adds another dimension to shouting or yelling: fear or excitement.

Examples:
-Stop yelling at me! I can hear you just fine.

-On the roller coaster, we were screaming our heads off.

Shit-faced

'Shit-faced' means really drunk.

Example:
-Last night we got so shit-faced!

School-night

A 'school-night' is a night when there is school the next day. Sunday-Thursday are school-nights.

Example:
-Mom, can I watch tv?
-No, sweetie, it's a school-night! Time to take your bath!

Shutting up now...

"Shutting up now..." is an expression speakers of American English use to show embarrassment and apologize when they realize they've been monopolizing the conversation and not giving the other person a chance to respond.

Example:
-(yawns)
-Ok, shutting up now!

Should we watch a movie or see a movie?

While many native speakers of American English may be unaware they are doing it, they do actually distinguish between 'watching' a movie and 'seeing' one. "Watching" a movie means you are going to do it at home or in someone else's house on TV, whereas "seeing a movie" means you're going to do it at a movie theater.

Examples:
-What movie are you going to watch?
-Oh, I don't know. Whatever's on the classic movie channel tonight.

-What movie are you going to see?
-Well, we haven't decided yet. We'll see what looks good when we get there.