The most commonly used expressions in America?

Native Korean   Fri May 09, 2008 4:42 pm GMT
I am a Korean student living in America and I want to know the most commonly used American expressions for these sentecens.

#1. When you are shopping at a mall and the clerk approaches you and says "Can I help you, sir?"
You: "I'm just looking around." => Correct me if you have a better sentence.

#2. When you leave the store without buying anything from that store,
You: "I'll shop around some other stores and get back to you."

#3. You are having dinner with your friends at a restaurant but you want to go to the bathroom,
You: "Excuse me, I gotta go to the bathroom."

#4. When someone you don't know mistakenly phones you,
You: "Sorry, I think you got the wrong number."

#5. When your friend says to you "Hey, what's up?"
You: ???? (I don't know how to respond this greeting -_-)

Can you suggest me the best/most common American colloquial expressions for those?
Guest   Fri May 09, 2008 4:51 pm GMT
You mean by America, America the continent or America the country (the US) ??
Guest   Fri May 09, 2008 5:28 pm GMT
It depends what country in America you live in, if you're an Asian living in the U.S. when you go to a restaurant, all you have to say is: "Hi, I'd like some rise please".
guest   Fri May 09, 2008 7:24 pm GMT
#1. When you are shopping at a mall and the clerk approaches you and says "Can I help you, sir?"
You: "I'm just looking around." => Correct me if you have a better sentence.
{***correct, but only if you do not wish to buy anything***}

#2. When you leave the store without buying anything from that store,
You: "I'll shop around some other stores and get back to you."
{***don't have to say anything at all***}


#3. You are having dinner with your friends at a restaurant but you want to go to the bathroom,
You: "Excuse me, I gotta go to the bathroom."
{***[excuse me,] I need to step away***}


#4. When someone you don't know mistakenly phones you,
You: "Sorry, I think you got the wrong number."
{***correct***}


#5. When your friend says to you "Hey, what's up?"
You: ???? (I don't know how to respond this greeting -_-)
{***WAZZAP!? Playa***}
Guest   Fri May 09, 2008 7:46 pm GMT
#1. When you are shopping at a mall and the clerk approaches you and says "Can I help you, sir?"
You: "I'm just looking around." => Correct me if you have a better sentence.
{***It is best to say "Leave me alone! I don't need your help!"***}

#2. When you leave the store without buying anything from that store,
You: "I'll shop around some other stores and get back to you."
{***Say "Your store doesn't have a very good selection."***}


#3. You are having dinner with your friends at a restaurant but you want to go to the bathroom,
You: "Excuse me, I gotta go to the bathroom."
{***Say "I need to go take a shit/piss." (depending on what you have to do)***}


#4. When someone you don't know mistakenly phones you,
You: "Sorry, I think you got the wrong number."
{***Say "Wrong number, dumbshit!"***}


#5. When your friend says to you "Hey, what's up?"
You: ???? (I don't know how to respond this greeting -_-)
{***It is best to say "the sky" if you're outside and "the ceiling" if you're inside.***}
Native Korean   Fri May 09, 2008 8:58 pm GMT
↑ Hey Guest, tell me where I should laugh
Guest   Fri May 09, 2008 9:01 pm GMT
What? Are you saying you don't like my suggestions? >:(
nick   Fri May 09, 2008 9:15 pm GMT
I hope someone will kick u out of here. Guest.
Guest   Sat May 10, 2008 12:15 am GMT
#1. When you are shopping at a mall and the clerk approaches you and says "Can I help you, sir?"
You: "I'm just looking around." => Correct me if you have a better sentence.

I would probably say "I'm just looking, thanks though!"

#2. When you leave the store without buying anything from that store,
You: "I'll shop around some other stores and get back to you."

I wouldn't say anything and just leave... Unless it's a small store and the clerk has been watching you the whole time then you could just say "thanks" and leave.

#3. You are having dinner with your friends at a restaurant but you want to go to the bathroom,
You: "Excuse me, I gotta go to the bathroom."
I would say "I'll be right back." They'll figure out where you're going.

#4. When someone you don't know mistakenly phones you,
You: "Sorry, I think you got the wrong number." Correct.

#5. When your friend says to you "Hey, what's up?"
You: ???? (I don't know how to respond this greeting -_-)
"nothing much, you?"
Guest   Sat May 10, 2008 1:35 am GMT
#1. When you are shopping at a mall and the clerk approaches you and says "Can I help you, sir?"
You: No, thank you.

#2. When you leave the store without buying anything from that store,
You: Goodbye, have a nice day

#3. You are having dinner with your friends at a restaurant but you want to go to the bathroom,
You: "Could you excuse me for a while'

#4. When someone you don't know mistakenly phones you,
You: "Sorry, you've got the wrong number."

#5. When your friend says to you "Hey, what's up?"
You: Not much

Can you suggest me the best/most common American colloquial expressions for those
Guest   Sat May 10, 2008 1:44 am GMT
#1. When you are shopping at a mall and the clerk approaches you and says "Can I help you, sir?"
"..."

#2. When you leave the store without buying anything from that store,
"..."

#3. You are having dinner with your friends at a restaurant but you want to go to the bathroom,
"..."

#4. When someone you don't know mistakenly phones you,
"... - beep beep beep"

#5. When your friend says to you "Hey, what's up?"
"..." (looking up)

ie, say nothing.
Guest (this one the last   Sat May 10, 2008 1:49 am GMT
I'm just talking out of my experiance, indeed I'm not a native speaker, but as I say we all are work in progress. But as I think you don't need to explain to someone that you are going to the bathroom, it's not his/her business, as I think it's not necessary to give an explanation in shops while you are not going to shop from this place, because you are a customer that means that in some way or another you are right to make a choice. So I won't bother to explain to someone why I'm not going to shop in his shop. Where someone called me by mistake on my phone I just say 'you've got the wrong number : that's all. For whazzup I could say : everything is fine, I'm great, I'm fine thank you. No bad thanks and so and so ,. there are thousands common words in english for wazzup. Simetimes I say I'm just looking around when I do not intent to buy nothin', but I could say No, thank you and that's all. I do not need to explain to shopkeepers nothing : they have to look after me, not me to look if someone is going to suggest me something if I need help I would say: could you help me for a while. I hope that that will help you All people here are so friendly and willing to help.
Guest   Sat May 10, 2008 2:12 am GMT
What if you are in a shop discussing something with a salesman (ie a car store, or a computer store), then what do you say?
Guest (this one the last   Sat May 10, 2008 3:26 am GMT
I would say something like: I appreciate your help, but I need a little time to think about it, I will be right back. (If I intent to return back) , If I do not intent to return back I would say something like I appreciate your help, It was nice to talk to you, see you later, talk to you later. I need some time. You have to be much more flexible.
Guest   Sat May 10, 2008 3:49 am GMT
You would tell the salesman that he has to be more flexible?