Thread: "That's the least I can do"

Originally Posted by Valda

I disagree.
It sends a message. If a person on the street asked me for directions and thanked me - I won't answer with "thats the least I can do" ill answer with "sure". But if it's a person that I feel like that's been helpful to me yet he thanked for me for something...that's the moment to say "that's the least I can do"...so I won't just throw this phrase around for no good reason.

Why not just say Это пока все, что я могу сделать?

In these here parts, the least I can do is pretty much used as I said, although not to complete strangers:

- "Why thank you for making me tea!"
- "It's the least I could do for such a good friend"

OR, a little different meaning when you're obligated to do something:
- "Thanks for the bottle of beer"
- "Oh, it's the least I could do, considering I depleted all of yours last week, along with you burritos"

But who knows, maybe in other places it has other meanings that I'm not aware of.