How to Use the French Expression Allons-y

The French phrase allons-y  (pronounced ah-lo(n)-zee) is one you may find yourself using if youre traveling with friends or about to begin something. Literally translated, it means Let us go there, but this idiomatic expression is usually understood to mean  Lets go. There are many variations of this common phrase, depending on the context, such as lets get going,  off we go, lets get started, here we go, and more. French speakers use it to  announce that its time to leave or to indicate the beginning of some activity.   Usage and Examples   The French expression  allons-y is essentially the first person plural (nous) form of the imperative of aller (to go), followed by the adverbial pronoun  y. Rough synonyms include  On y va!  (Lets go) and  Cest parti  (Here we go). An informal variation is Allons-y, Alonso.  The name Alonso doesnt refer to an actual person; its just tacked on for fun because its alliterative (the first two syllables are the same as those of  Allons-y). So its a bit like saying, Lets go, Daddy-o. If you were to put this in the third person  plural, youd get the similarly well-known French expression Allez-y! The idiomatic meaning of allez-y in colloquial French is something like Go on! or Off you go! Here are some other examples of how you might use this phrase in conversation: Il est tard, allons-y.   Its getting late;  lets go.Il y a un nouveau resto à   cà ´tà © du cinà ©ma, allons-y.   Theres a new restaurant next to the movie theater.  Lets go (eat there).Tu veux apprendre le japonais? Moi aussi, allons-y!   You want to learn Japanese? Me too. Lets go / Lets do it!Vous à ªtes prà ªts? Allons-y!   Are you ready? Lets go!Allons-y maintenant! Lets go now.OK, allons-y. Okay, lets go.Allons-y, ne nous gà ªnons pas!  (ironic usage)   Dont mind me !Allons bon, jai perdu ma clef maintenant!   Oh no, now Ive lost my key !Allons bon, voilà   quil recommence à   pleurer!   Here we go; hes crying again !Eh bien,  allons-y  et voyons sil disait la và ©rità ©.  Ã‚  Well,  lets go  and see if he was telling the truth.Alors,  allons-y. Oà ¹ mettez-vous les mains?  Ã‚  Go on then. Do you put your hands like this?Enfin, puisque vous insistez,  allons-y.   Oh, well, if you insist.  Come  on.Je suis partante,  allo ns-y, ici, tout de suite.  Ã‚  Im ready.  Lets do it. Right here, now.A quoi cela ressemblerait-il? Alors  allons-y.  Ã‚  What would it look like? Lets  begin.Sinon, remontons nos manches et  allons-y.  Ã‚  Otherwise, lets roll up our sleeves and  get on with it.