E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: You don't say?

"You don't say?" is a common expression and rhetorical question used in response to a comment made by someone in conversation. It usually follows information given that is already known to most everyone. It is not new information to the receiver, but the messenger tells the information as though new. 

Some examples:

Messenger: Cows eat grass, not meat!

Receiver: You don't say?!

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Messenger: You can't walk in Central Park at midnight alone! You're a woman!

Receiver: You don't say?

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Messenger: The Arctic Circle is mostly frozen land mass and cold.

Receiver: You don't say?

                                                             Video: Personal Archives

"You don't say!" has the intonation of a conclusion made by the receiver and a bit of sarcasm (see video above), rather than that of the typical honest question. It can be used by the receiver to indicate either disbelief or obviousness in the statement made by the messenger. 

Some examples:

Messenger: I may be small, but I'm going to show him a thing or two* even though he's a body-builder.

Receiver: You don't say. 

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Messenger: I really am afraid of rats after getting bit by one!

Receiver: You don't say!

* To show someone "a thing or two", is to confront them in some bold manner with the intent to show oneself stronger or better than they are.

In the above example, the messenger is obviously no match for the body-builder he plans to confront. The receiver knows this and doubts his success in doing so. Therefore, the response is sarcasm with a bit of body language and a look to go with it (see video above).

"You don't say" can be used to ridicule in response to the messenger (the one making the statement), or simply said in fun to tease.

Finally, "You don't say" can be used just as a normal response to something someone says. The intonation in this kind of response has a bit of surprise with interest, but not disbelief (see video below).

                                 Video: Personal Archives

Some examples:

Joey: Hey, man! I just got promoted to manager at my job! 

Jane: You don't say.

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Michelle: I put the tile down on the floor in our bathroom and changed the roofing on the garage all by myself.

Bob: You don't say.

Congratulations! You're getting even closer to speaking impressive American English!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Ferry vs Fairy

BC FERRIES is a fleet of 36 sea-worthy vessels which operate between the continent and Vancouver Island off the southwestern  coast  of the province of British Columbia, Canada. These ferries transport 370 to 470  vehicles and 1600 to 2100 passengers. It is the largest fleet of ferries in the world. The Strait of Georgia is the watery passageway by which these ferries commute back and forth between the immense Vancouver Island, the smaller coastal islands and the mainland. Sixteen-car ferries service the inhabitants of the smaller islands. 

The 160 x 28 meter vessel, MV Coastal Inspiration.
Photo taken June 25, 2008 by Kam Abbott of Nanaimo, Canada.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC_Ferries#mediaviewer/File:Ferry_Coastal_Inspiration_in_Strait_of_Georgia.jpg

Occasionally, a pod of killer whales or porpoises can be seen frolicking or just passing by. Thrilled ferry passengers jump at the chance to get them on film as the captain announces their presence.

I recently took a 2-hour trip via Georgia Strait on the BC Ferries route between the man-made peninsula called Tsawwassen and Duke Point, on Vancouver Island. Tsawwassen ("te-WAH-sen"), just south of the city of Vancouver which means “facing the ocean", is an indigenous word of the First Nations peoples of Canada.

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Now, the moment you have been waiting for! The two words ferry and fairy are pronounced exactly the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Ferry is the boat and fairy is the imaginary being usually in human form which has magical powers, like Dwayne Johnson portrayed in the movie The Tooth Fairy.

BC Ferries routes in the region of Central Georgia Strait.
This map is public domain.

You are on your way to speaking impressive American English!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: On the house!

On the house is an expression Americans use to indicate that a drink is free of charge for the customer. The expression originated in England in the late 19th century where pubs (public houses) would offer a drink to an unsatisfied customer, or as a courtesy or donation. Sometimes in movies you will notice a known customer goes into a bar and orders a drink. The bartender would say: "Here you go. It's on the house".

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If it is free for the customer, it is figuratively "paid" by the establishment, meaning that the establishment covers the cost. That is how the expression came to be known: on the house. The house or establishment does not charge the customer, thus the drink is "on the house".  

You are on your way to speaking impressive American English!