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Thursday
Aug192010

“Fine! I'll take it back!”

You bought your wife a new TV for her birthday. But she says she doesn't want it and she's angry that you bought such an expensive gift. After arguing about it for a few minutes, you decide that you'll try to return the TV to the store to get a refund.

Fine! I'll take it back!

Fine!

People say this word after arguing or debating with someone. This word shows that you're letting the other person win the argument. You're going to do what they say, although you're not happy about it. The word "fine" is used sarcastically, since "fine" originally means "good".

If you're debating with your friend about where to go for lunch, and he's really persistent about going to a certain Korean restaurant, you can say OK to that:

Fine, we'll go to the Korean place.

The stronger you stress the word "fine", the angrier you seem. In the middle of a big argument, you can shut down the discussion by saying "Fine!" and then suggesting some extreme action:

You don't like how I'm dressed? Fine! Go by yourself then.

If you want to say that something really is "fine", meaning good or OK, use "That's fine" instead of "Fine!".

I'll (do something)

Say "I'll ___" when you've just decided to do something:

I'll add him to the distribution list.

I'll go pick up all the stuff we need.

take (something) back (to a store)

At most stores in the U.S., you can take something that you bought back to the store, and return it to get your money back.

This is called "taking (something) back" in casual speech, or "returning (something)" in just a little bit more formal English.

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