English is full of
little words that we use all the time in conversation - and "just" is
one of those words.
Here are a few typical expressions
with "just" to get you started:
"Just in case"
"Just because"
"Just because"
"Just to let you know"
"Just as well"
"Just good friends"
I put together a huge list of over
50 of these super-common expressions because when you use them, you'll
sound more like a native speaker. You can get them here:
We use the adverb “just” a lot in English, especially in spoken English.
We can use it to mean different things (like “only”, “exactly” and
“absolutely”) and we also use it in time expressions and to be polite.
Get the most common
meanings of “just”, with more than 50 everyday expressions using “just”.
“Just” In Time
Expressions
We can use “just” to mean “recently”. In British English you use it with
the present perfect tense:
“I’ve just been shopping.”
“We’ve just left. We’ll see you in an hour.”
“I’ve just been shopping.”
“We’ve just left. We’ll see you in an hour.”
Don’t confuse
it with “already” which means that something happened earlier than you thought:
“They’ve already left – you missed them!”
“They’ve already left – you missed them!”
We can also
use “just” to mean “immediately”. In this situation, use it with the present
continuous tense:
“I’m just leaving. I’ll see you in 5 minutes.”
“I’m just leaving. I’ll see you in 5 minutes.”
Just
now =
very recently
“When did you hear from them?”
“Just now, actually.”
“When did you hear from them?”
“Just now, actually.”
Just
then =
at that very moment (in the past)
“He answered the phone. Just then, someone knocked on the door.”
“He answered the phone. Just then, someone knocked on the door.”
Just as = at the same time
as something else (in the past)
“Just as he was going, the phone rang.”
“Just as he was going, the phone rang.”
Just
when =
just as
“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…” (an advert for Jaws 2)
“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…” (an advert for Jaws 2)
Just
about = when you nearly didn’t have enough time for something
“We just about made our flight.”
“We just about made our flight.”
“Just” To Mean
“Only”
There are
many examples when we use “just” to mean “only”:
“I’m just looking.” = In a shop when the sales
assistant asks you if you need help.
“I’m just kidding.” = When you want to say you aren’t
serious about something.”
“Just saying...” = When you want to point out
something which is true, but it might also upset someone because it’s also a
criticism.
“That’s not the best example to set your children. Just saying…”
“That’s not the best example to set your children. Just saying…”
“How many
sugars in your tea?”
“Oh, just one, please.”
“Oh, just one, please.”
“There’s just one more thing we need to discuss…”
Just a minute = when you want to speak to
someone for only a short period of time
“Bear with me just a minute while I find the details.”
“Bear with me just a minute while I find the details.”
(We can also
say this when we finally realise something.
“Just a minute! You’re the guy who lent me your phone, aren’t you!”)
“Just a minute! You’re the guy who lent me your phone, aren’t you!”)
Just a
question of time = something will definitely happen
“It’s just a question of time before an accident happens on this road.”
“It’s just a question of time before an accident happens on this road.”
Just
this once = only one time (that someone can do something)
“Can I borrow your car today? Just this once, I promise!”
“Can I borrow your car today? Just this once, I promise!”
Just
because = for the one (simple) reason
“Just because all your friends can stay out until midnight doesn’t mean you can too!”
“Just because all your friends can stay out until midnight doesn’t mean you can too!”
“Just” To Mean
“Exactly”
“Just” can also
mean “exactly”. For example:
“You’re just like your mother!”
“It’s just the same problem as last week.”
“We have just enough time to get something to
eat before the train leaves.”
“You’re just in time to see Debbie do her
impersonation of the boss!”
“You’re just the person I wanted to see! Have
you got a couple of minutes to help me?”
“Thank you so
much for talking to me yesterday. It’s just what I needed!”
Just
the job / Just the ticket = the precise thing that you needed
“I’ve been looking for a small-space storage solution, and this is just the job!”
“I’ve been looking for a small-space storage solution, and this is just the job!”
Just
what the doctor ordered = exactly what you needed to feel better
“We had a great break in the Lake District. It was just what the doctor ordered!”
“We had a great break in the Lake District. It was just what the doctor ordered!”
Just so = when something
is done precisely
“She likes the beds to be made just so.”
“She likes the beds to be made just so.”
(See also the
other meaning of “Just so” in the section below.)
That’s
just it = that’s exactly the case (when you agree with what someone says)
“That’s just it! You can’t keep cutting salaries and then expect people to stay in the company!”
“That’s just it! You can’t keep cutting salaries and then expect people to stay in the company!”
“Just” To Mean
“Absolutely” / “Simply”
You can add
emphasis when you use “just” with an adjective. Here are a couple of examples:
“It’s just not fair.”
“Her children
are just adorable!”
“Just so” = “Rightly so / Absolutely correct.”
“They bring up their children to be polite to teachers.”
“Just so!”
“They bring up their children to be polite to teachers.”
“Just so!”
Just
one of those days = something you say when everything seems to go
wrong
“First the boiler broke down, then my car wouldn’t start… It’s just one of those days.”
“First the boiler broke down, then my car wouldn’t start… It’s just one of those days.”
Just
the way it is = when there’s nothing we can do about a situation
“There’s no point complaining about their hiring process. That’s just the way it is.”
“There’s no point complaining about their hiring process. That’s just the way it is.”
(I) just can’t help it = when you / someone can’t
stop yourself from doing something (even if you know you shouldn’t)
“I can’t keep quiet when he says these outrageous things. I just can’t help it!”
“I can’t keep quiet when he says these outrageous things. I just can’t help it!”
Just
for fun = when you do something simply to have fun
“Lets go for a bike ride along the coast, just for fun.”
“Lets go for a bike ride along the coast, just for fun.”
“Just” In
Polite Expressions
We can also
use “just” when we want to sound less definite and polite. For example:
“I was just wondering if you had some time
this week to talk to me about something…”
“I just wanted to let you know that…” = when
you want to give information
“I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be leaving the company at the end of the month.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be leaving the company at the end of the month.”
“I’m just writing to tell you…” = when you give
information in an email
“I’m just writing to tell you that I’ve heard back from the hospital.”
“I’m just writing to tell you that I’ve heard back from the hospital.”
Just so
you know = when you want to inform someone about something
“Just so you know, I’m out of the office next week.”
“Just so you know, I’m out of the office next week.”
Let me
just say = when you want to add something to a discussion
“Let me just say that despite the bad publicity, sales of our new product did well.”
“Let me just say that despite the bad publicity, sales of our new product did well.”
More
Expressions With “Just”
We have lots
of fixed expressions with “just”. Here are the most common ones.
Just as
well! = fortunately
“It was just as well that you didn’t tell him about the surprise party!”
“It was just as well that you didn’t tell him about the surprise party!”
Just
around the corner = very close (either in time or space)
“I live just around the corner from them.”
“Christmas is just around the corner!”
“I live just around the corner from them.”
“Christmas is just around the corner!”
Just
good friends = when you want to emphasise that you aren’t in a romantic
relationship with someone
“John and I are just good friends. That’s all!”
“John and I are just good friends. That’s all!”
Just in
case =
to prepare against something happening
“Take your passport with you to the bank – just in case they ask for ID.”
“Take your passport with you to the bank – just in case they ask for ID.”
Just
goes to show = what you’ve just said proves something
“It just goes to show that going to a great university doesn’t always mean you’ll get a great job.”
“It just goes to show that going to a great university doesn’t always mean you’ll get a great job.”
Is it
just me, or… = when you want to find out if other people agree with your
complaint (or if you’re the only one to think or feel like this!)
“Is it just me, or is this restaurant really loud?”
“Is it just me, or is this restaurant really loud?”
Just my
luck! = something you say when something unlucky happens
“We went all the way there to try out the restaurant – and it was closed! Just my luck!”
“We went all the way there to try out the restaurant – and it was closed! Just my luck!”
Just
for the record = when you want someone to know something (and to know that you
said it)
“Just for the record, I have never suggested that he’s a bad employee!”
“Just for the record, I have never suggested that he’s a bad employee!”
Just
think / Just imagine = when you invite someone to imagine a future
situation (often used in marketing)
“Just think! We could be in Australia right now!”
“Just think! We could be in Australia right now!”
As it
just so happens… = something that happens by chance
“As it just so happens, I went to school with her father!”
“As it just so happens, I went to school with her father!”
Just
another day = a typical day in your work
“Some people save lives – but for them, it’s just another day.”
“Some people save lives – but for them, it’s just another day.”
Just
for starters = when something is first in the list (of other things)
“To get a job here you have to fill out an online form – and that’s just for starters!”
“To get a job here you have to fill out an online form – and that’s just for starters!”
Just
say the word! = when you can do something that someone else wants as
soon as they tell you
“We can leave the party any time you want. Just say the word!”
“We can leave the party any time you want. Just say the word!”
Don’t
just …! = when you want to get someone to do something
“Don’t just sit there while he insults you. Do something!”
“Don’t just sit there while he insults you. Do something!”
Don’t
you just love it when … = when you ask someone if they also feel the
same anger or disappointment as you
“Don’t you just love it when your boss calls you in for a meeting ten minutes before you’re due to leave the office on a Friday afternoon?”
“Don’t you just love it when your boss calls you in for a meeting ten minutes before you’re due to leave the office on a Friday afternoon?”
Famous Song
Titles With “Just”
And finally…
there are even some famous song titles with “just” in them. Here are five of
them:
“I just
called to say I love you” (Stevie Wonder)
“Just like a woman” (Bob Dylan)
“Just the way you are” (Bruno Mars)
“Girls just want to have fun” (Cyndi Lauper)
“Just can’t get enough” (Depeche Mode)
“Just like a woman” (Bob Dylan)
“Just the way you are” (Bruno Mars)
“Girls just want to have fun” (Cyndi Lauper)
“Just can’t get enough” (Depeche Mode)