“All I need is a few shirts, a couple of changes of underwear, one pair of pants, and my toiletry kit. That's about it.”

English Lesson: All I need is a few shirts, a couple of changes of underwear, one pair of pants, and my toiletry kit. That's about it.

You're visiting friends in another city. Your friend is surprised that your suitcase is so small. You explain that it's small because you don't pack a lot of stuff.

All I need is a few shirts, a couple of changes of underwear, one pair of pants, and my toiletry kit. That's about it.

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a few (of something)

"A few" is a number that's not specific, but it usually means somewhere between 3-10. It's a little less formal than "several" and also sounds like a slightly lower number. Here are some examples:

You may want to consider hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions.

That's a very generous offer. Um, let me think it over for a few days and get back to you.

a pair of pants

Even though pants are one single item of clothing, they have two leg parts. Because of this, we always say "pants" with an "-s" at the end, and if you want to count them, you call them "a pair":

Why do you have so many pairs of pants?

You also call these clothing items "a pair":

a pair of glasses

a pair of gloves

a pair of shorts

a pair of shoes

a pair of socks

All (someone) needs is (something)

Use this phrase to talk about doing something easily:

All you need is love.

All I need is two more days, and I promise I'll be able to pay you back.

All you need is a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. 

a change of (clothes/pants/etc.)

A different set of clothes that you can change into is "a change of clothes":

Did you bring a change of clothes?

We also use the phrases:

a change of pants

a change of underwear

a change of socks

However, "a change of shirt" is uncommon.

a toiletry kit

"Toiletries" are items like toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, dental floss, soap, etc.

When people travel, they sometimes put all of their toiletries together in a small bag. This is known as a "toiletry kit".

Other examples of "kits" are:

  • a first aid kit
  • an emergency kit

That's about it.

When you're listing things, and you can't think of anything else to add to the list, finish with "That's about it."

A: ...some coffee, a loaf of bread... and some fruit, please.

B: Anything else?

A: No, that's about it.