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id="post-20414" class="post-20414 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-conversation category-phrasal-verbs category-the-english-language category-vocabulary tag-conversation tag-english tag-improve-your-english tag-phrasal-verbs tag-reassurance tag-vocabulary"> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title">Nobody blames you: phrases for offering reassurance</h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on">On <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-11-06T12:00:42+00:00">November 6, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-10-04T14:54:55+01:00">October 4, 2024</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/lizwalter2/">Liz Walter</a></span></span><span class="cat-links">In <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/category/conversation/" rel="category tag">Conversation</a>, <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/category/phrasal-verbs/" rel="category tag">Phrasal verbs</a>, <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/category/the-english-language/" rel="category tag">the English language</a>, <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/category/vocabulary/" rel="category tag">Vocabulary</a></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p><em>Listen to the author reading this blog post.</em></p>  <audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-20414-1" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nobody_blames_you_Liz_06.11.24.mp3?_=1" /><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nobody_blames_you_Liz_06.11.24.mp3">https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nobody_blames_you_Liz_06.11.24.mp3</a></audio> <p> </p> <figure id="attachment_20450" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20450" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?ssl=1"><img data-recalc-dims="1" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="20450" data-permalink="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/mother-and-teenage-boy-having-bonding-moments-on-the-balcony/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?fit=1859%2C1276&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1859,1276" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Getty Images","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark IV","caption":"Portrait of caring mid adult woman and her teenage son standing on the balcony, holding hands, smiling at each other and having bonding moments. She is gently caressing his face.","created_timestamp":"1681120921","copyright":"","focal_length":"115","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.002","title":"Mother and teenage boy having bonding moments on the balcony","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Nobody blames you (How we talk about using opportunities)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>fotostorm / E+</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?fit=300%2C206&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?fit=640%2C439&ssl=1" class="size-medium wp-image-20450" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513-300x206.jpg?resize=300%2C206&ssl=1" alt="A mother comforts offers assurance to her teenage son" width="300" height="206" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=300%2C206&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=1024%2C703&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=768%2C527&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=1536%2C1054&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=900%2C618&ssl=1 900w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=1280%2C879&ssl=1 1280w, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?w=1859&ssl=1 1859w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20450" class="wp-caption-text">fotostorm / E+</figcaption></figure> <p>by <strong>Liz Walter</strong></p> <p>We all have times when we need to <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/reassure">reassure</a></strong> someone, perhaps because they have done something they regret, because they are worried about something they have to do in the future or because they are experiencing something that is causing them anxiety.</p> <p><span id="more-20414"></span></p> <p>It can often be difficult to know what to say, especially in another language, so today’s post offers a few suggestions for phrases to use in these situations.</p> <p>Firstly, you might tell them that what happened isn’t as important as it may seem to them, using a phrase such as:</p> <p><em>It (really) doesn’t <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/matter#cald4-2">matter</a></strong>.</em></p> <p><em>I’ve seen much worse than that.</em></p> <p><em>Nobody/Not many people <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/notice">noticed</a></strong>.</em></p> <p><strong><em>It’s </em><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/not-the-end-of-the-world?q=end+of+the+world#google_vignette"><em>not the end of the world</em></a></strong><em>.</em> (Be careful with this one though. It should only be used for things that are genuinely unimportant, otherwise it may sound as if you are not taking the person’s feelings seriously.)</p> <p>If someone feels guilty or embarrassed about something that was out of their control, you could say something like:</p> <p><em>It (really) wasn’t your <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fault">fault</a></strong>.</em></p> <p><em>Nobody <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/blame">blames</a></strong> you (for it).</em></p> <p><em>You couldn’t <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/help#cald4-1-2">help</a></strong> it.</em></p> <p><em>There was nothing you could have done.</em></p> <p>Of course, sometimes people feel bad because they <em>did</em> make a mistake or do something wrong. In that case, you might say:</p> <p><em>Everyone makes <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/mistake">mistakes</a></strong> sometimes.</em></p> <p><em>Nobody’s <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/perfect">perfect</a></strong>.</em></p> <p>If you want to reassure them that other people won’t stay angry with them for long, you could say:</p> <p><em>It’ll soon <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/blow-over">blow over</a></strong>.</em></p> <p><em>In a couple of days everyone will have<strong> <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/forget">forgotten</a> </strong>about it.</em></p> <p>If someone is in the middle of a bad situation, possible phrases to use include:</p> <p><em>I’m sure it will all be <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fine">fine</a> <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/in-the-end">in the end</a></strong>.</em></p> <p><em>I know it feels bad now, but it won’t last forever.</em></p> <p><em>You’ll find a way through this, I’m sure.</em></p> <p>If someone is worried about something they need to do, you could reassure them by saying something like:</p> <p><em>Don’t <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/worry">worry</a></strong>, you’ll be great!</em></p> <p><em>There’s no need to worry.</em></p> <p><em>I’m sure it won’t be as bad/difficult as you think.</em></p> <p>You might try to make them feel better by emphasizing that they have a lot of support:</p> <p><em>We’ll all be <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/root-for?q=root+for+someone">rooting for</a></strong> you.</em></p> <p><em>We’ll be <strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cheer-on">cheering you on</a></strong>.</em></p> <p><em>Is there anything I/we can do to help?</em></p> <p>And finally, as long as a situation isn’t too serious, you might tell them:</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/one-day">One day</a></strong> you’ll (be able to) look back on this and laugh!</em></p> <div class="sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled"><div class="robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon sd-sharing"><h3 class="sd-title">Share this:</h3><div class="sd-content"><ul><li class="share-facebook"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-shared="sharing-facebook-20414" class="share-facebook sd-button share-icon no-text" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/?share=facebook" target="_blank" title="Click to share on Facebook" ><span></span><span class="sharing-screen-reader-text">Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)</span></a></li><li class="share-twitter"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-shared="sharing-twitter-20414" class="share-twitter sd-button share-icon no-text" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/?share=twitter" target="_blank" title="Click to share on Twitter" ><span></span><span class="sharing-screen-reader-text">Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)</span></a></li><li class="share-reddit"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-shared="" class="share-reddit sd-button share-icon no-text" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/?share=reddit" target="_blank" title="Click to share on Reddit" ><span></span><span class="sharing-screen-reader-text">Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)</span></a></li><li class="share-email"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-shared="" class="share-email sd-button share-icon no-text" href="mailto:?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Nobody%20blames%20you%3A%20phrases%20for%20offering%20reassurance&body=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionaryblog.cambridge.org%2F2024%2F11%2F06%2Fnobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance%2F&share=email" target="_blank" title="Click to email a link to a friend" data-email-share-error-title="Do you have email set up?" data-email-share-error-text="If you're having problems sharing via email, you might not have email set up for your browser. 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id="comment-252466" class="comment even thread-even depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-252466" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/384ddbfde6b8dd839cb5ad06d116b789?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/384ddbfde6b8dd839cb5ad06d116b789?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn"><a href="http://Postuniversity.edu" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Keith Sullivan</a></b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>That was very inspiring</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252466-67484af5c3384' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252466&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252466-67484af5c3384' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252466-67484af5c3384'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/#comment-252466"> <time datetime="2024-11-07T05:10:29+00:00"> November 7, 2024 at 5:10 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252466" data-commentid="252466" data-postid="20414" data-belowelement="div-comment-252466" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Keith Sullivan" aria-label="Reply to Keith Sullivan">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252472" class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-252472" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/be938a360c520cb8718c974b738af4ba?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/be938a360c520cb8718c974b738af4ba?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Saul Fernandez</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>i know its meant for comfort but they sound like pat answers.<br /> each case depends and its different i think just listening to the person often not even saying anything just being there can often be of emnense help.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252472-67484af5c39d8' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252472&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252472-67484af5c39d8' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252472-67484af5c39d8'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/#comment-252472"> <time datetime="2024-11-08T10:22:29+00:00"> November 8, 2024 at 10:22 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252472" data-commentid="252472" data-postid="20414" data-belowelement="div-comment-252472" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Saul Fernandez" aria-label="Reply to Saul Fernandez">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252474" class="comment even thread-even depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-252474" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/77069892893e6720422ab902c5728183?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/77069892893e6720422ab902c5728183?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Aadhila Zaferullah</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Beautifully described….</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252474-67484af5c3fee' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252474&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252474-67484af5c3fee' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252474-67484af5c3fee'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/#comment-252474"> <time datetime="2024-11-08T19:28:27+00:00"> November 8, 2024 at 7:28 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-252474" data-commentid="252474" data-postid="20414" data-belowelement="div-comment-252474" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Aadhila Zaferullah" aria-label="Reply to Aadhila Zaferullah">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-252487" class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-252487" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/76e679345603b0af2569c226672a718a?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/76e679345603b0af2569c226672a718a?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Odinabonu Mirkhamidova</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Thank you very much 😊👍</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-252487-67484af5c4593' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=252487&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-252487-67484af5c4593' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-252487-67484af5c4593'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder 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Carter</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2011/12/14/a-few-words-on-corpus-linguistics-part-2/" title="A few words on corpus linguistics part 2">A few words on corpus linguistics part 2</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2011/12/12/a-few-words-on-corpus-linguistics/" title="A few words on corpus linguistics">A few words on corpus linguistics</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/cambridgewords/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aef1e4cb2fd31e8f50444ca18ada3b49?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aef1e4cb2fd31e8f50444ca18ada3b49?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Cambridge Words</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/25/new-words-25-november-2024-2/" title="New words – 25 November 2024">New words – 25 November 2024</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/20/cambridge-dictionary-word-of-the-year-2024/" title="Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024">Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/colinjmcintosh/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50053df1e6dad3114823d445b2ffaa08?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50053df1e6dad3114823d445b2ffaa08?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>colinjmcintosh</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2016/08/02/a-life-beyond-fiction/" title="A life beyond fiction">A life beyond fiction</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2016/07/26/whats-in-a-name/" title="What’s in a name?">What’s in a name?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/domcambridge/"> <img alt='1' 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