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Giving thanks in English Posted by on Nov 24, 2015 in Culture

Image by Adi Respati on Flickr.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Image by Adi Respati on Flickr.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is a time when people give thanks for the people and things they have in their lives. In honor of the upcoming American holiday of Thanksgiving I have some idioms and expressions for you that are all about giving thanks.

Emphatic expression of thanks:

I can’t thank you enough.
Example: I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me!

Thanks a bunch.
Example: Thanks a bunch for helping out.

Thanks a million.
Example: Thanks a million for being here.

Emphatic expressions expressing relief from worry:

Thank heavens.
Example: Thank heavens you are safe, I was so worried about you.

Thank goodness.
Example: Thank goodness your plane landed before the big snowstorm.

Idioms with the word ‘thank’ in them:

thank your lucky stars  = you should be very thankful
Example: You should thank your lucky stars that I came along when I did, you could have frozen to death out there.

wham bam thank you ma’am – This is an expression that is said after something happens quickly, or is finished very fast. Note: At times it is used to refer to sex that happened very quickly.
Example: Wham bam thank you ma’am, the deliveryman was here and gone so quickly I hardly saw him.

thank God its Friday (TGIF) – an expression commonly used on Friday when leaving work or school, indicating joy that the weekend is about to begin
Example: Thank God it is Friday; I can’t take another customer complaint.

Informal ways of writing ‘thank you’:
thanks
thanx

Thank you for being a faithful reader of the blog. And Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

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About the Author: Gabriele

Hi there! I am one of Transparent Language's ESL bloggers. I am a 32-year-old native English speaker who was born and raised in the United States. I am living in Washington, DC now, but I have lived all over the US and also spent many years living and working abroad. I started teaching English as a second language in 2005 after completing a Master's in Applied Linguists and a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults' (CELTA). Since that time I have taught ESL in the United States at the community college and university level. I have also gone on to pursue my doctorate in psychology and now I also teach courses in psychology. I like to stay connected to ESL learners around the world through Transparent Languages ESL Blog. Please ask questions and leave comments on the blog and I will be sure to answer them.