Polite Ways to Say "I’m Not Done with My Food"

In many cultures, being polite is key to effective communication, especially when dining out. If you’re learning English, knowing how to politely let someone know you’re not done with your meal can help you sound more natural and courteous.

In this video, David is interrupted while eating, and Sophia introduces several polite phrases to respond to a server. Instead of saying “No, I’m still eating,” which may sound abrupt, you can use:

"Actually, I'm not quite finished yet, if you don't mind."
"I'm still working on it, but thank you for checking."
"I'll hold onto it for now, if you don't mind."
"I'll let you know when I'm ready for you to take it."
These polite alternatives help you sound more considerate in English-speaking environments. Next time you’re dining out, practice using one of these phrases to communicate your message more softly and professionally. This will make interactions smoother and improve your conversational English.