Mike Noel wrote:
: I was returning to my home base this morning and was cleared down to 4500'
snip
: Is this a commonly used phraseology from ATC? I would have thought just
: using the word 'continue' would be too ambiguous for the likes of the FAA.

I commonly get told 'continue' in the context of an instrument approach:
(me) Hyannis tower, cherokee 9376J outside bogey ils 24
(them) Cherokee 76J continue report bogey inbound
(me) tower 76J bogey inbound
(them) Cherokee 76J continue expect landing clearance short final following
twin cessna traffic short final

--
Aaron Coolidge (N9376J)