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  • How To... with bbclearningenglish.com. Everyday English for everyday situation.

  • Hello, welcome to How To... with bbclearningenglish.com. I'm Jackie Dalton.

  • In this program, we'll look at how to express anger and annoyance about something.

  • Of course there are all sorts of very strong words in English used to show annoyance (some of which you probably already know),

  • but we'll be focusing on those expressions which aren't quite so offensive, so you don't find yourself upsetting people.

  • Let's hear our first one.

  • I'm at a party drinking a glass of wine.

  • But then, oh no! I dropped my glass.

  • Oh no!

  • A simple reaction you can use in all kinds of situations when something bad has happened.

  • Oh no!

  • Oh no!

  • You could also say 'Oh dear!'. This means the same thing.

  • Oh dear!

  • Let's hear those words in sentences with other expressions.

  • Oh dear! He missed his plane.

  • Oh no! I can't believe I've just done that.

  • Oh dear! I don't believe he's forgotten again.

  • In those last sentences, we heard another expression worth knowing: 'I can't believe' or 'I don't believe'.

  • Again, a popular phrase when something bad has just happened.

  • Oh no! I can't believe I've just done that.

  • Oh dear! I don't believe he's forgotten again.

  • Oh, I can't believe it!

  • I can't. I can't believe that this is happening again.

  • Oh, I can't believe I've just done that.

  • So those were our first three expressions: 'Oh no!' 'Oh dear!' and 'I can't believe it!'

  • Here's one you might use if something's gone wrong and it's happened to you before.

  • Why does this always happen to me?

  • 'Why does this always happen?' Here are some more examples.

  • I've lost my keys. Why does this always happen to me?

  • They missed the train. Why does that always happen?

  • You're listening to How To... with bbclearningenglish.com.

  • Listen to this clip of an angry boss. What expression does he start with to show he's annoyed?

  • I mean for goodness sake, he said he'd do it and now he hasn't done it, so... that's just typical.

  • 'For goodness sake!' Something to say when you're annoyed.

  • He said he can't help us! - Oh for goodness sake!

  • A variation on this is 'for heaven's sake!'

  • Oh, for heaven's sake! Why is she so unreliable?

  • One more handy and not too offensive expression is 'bother!'

  • Isn't he coming to the party?

  • Oh, bother. I forgot to invite him.

  • A word you might hear in similar context, but which some people might find a bit offensive is 'damn!'

  • Oh damn, they've canceled the flight.

  • Damn! I've forgotten my car keys.

  • Again, this is only for informal situations and some people might be a bit offended by the word, so do be careful how you use it.

  • Now. Let's do a summary of the expressions we've looked at. Listen closely and try to remember as many as you can.

  • Oh dear!

  • Oh no!

  • I can't believe it!

  • Why does this always happen?

  • For goodness sake!

  • For heaven's sake.

  • Bother!

  • (and with caution) Damn!

  • Now go on to practice the phrases we've looked at with the exercise on the website.

How To... with bbclearningenglish.com. Everyday English for everyday situation.

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it

A2 sake annoyance goodness forgotten bother heaven

How to show annoyance

  • 12 1
    林宜悉 posted on 2023/01/07
Video vocabulary

Keywords

phrase

US /frez/

・

UK /freɪz/

  • other
  • To express something in a particular way.
  • To express something in a particular way.
  • noun
  • A short expression that is commonly used.
  • A group of words that form a conceptual unit, though not a complete sentence.
  • A musical unit, often part of a larger melody.
  • Common expression or saying
  • A short expression that is commonly used.
  • A group of words that form a conceptual unit, though not necessarily a complete sentence.
  • Section of musical notes in a piece of music
  • A set of words used together
  • verb
  • To choose words to say what you mean clearly

A2

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context

US /ˈkɑnˌtɛkst/

・

UK /ˈkɒntekst/

  • noun
  • Set of facts surrounding a person or event
  • The parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.
  • The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.

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situation

US /ˌsɪtʃuˈeʃən/

・

UK /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn/

  • noun
  • Place, position or area that something is in
  • An unexpected problem or difficulty

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expression

US /ɪkˈsprɛʃən/

・

UK /ɪk'spreʃn/

  • noun
  • A look on someone's face that shows their feelings.
  • Act of making your thoughts and feelings known
  • Group of words that have a specific meaning
  • The act of making your feelings or opinions known.
  • A word or phrase.
  • The act of making one's thoughts or feelings known.
  • The manifestation of emotions, ideas, or qualities in art, music, or literature.
  • The manifestation of emotions, ideas, or feelings through artistic mediums.
  • The act of conveying thoughts, feelings, or information through words, gestures, or other means.
  • A look on someone's face that conveys a particular emotion.
  • A particular look or demeanor on someone's face that conveys emotion or thought.
  • A mathematical phrase combining numbers, symbols, and operators.
  • A mathematical phrase combining numbers, symbols, and operators.
  • The way in which music is performed to convey emotion
  • The act of making your opinions or feelings known.
  • A word or phrase used to convey a particular idea or feeling.
  • other
  • The process of conveying feelings or ideas through creative means
  • The act of expressing one's thoughts or feelings
  • The way a performer conveys emotion or feeling in their performance

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practice

US /ˈpræktɪs/

・

UK /'præktɪs/

  • other
  • To carry out or perform (a particular activity, method, or custom) habitually or regularly.
  • To carry out or perform (a particular activity, method, or custom) habitually or regularly.
  • To perform an activity or exercise a skill repeatedly in order to improve or maintain proficiency.
  • To perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency.
  • To do something repeatedly so as to become skilled at it.
  • noun
  • A customary way of doing something.
  • A usual or customary action or proceeding.
  • A doctor's or lawyer's business.
  • Repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it.
  • The customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing of something.
  • The office and place for legal or medical work
  • Doing something many times to become better at it
  • other
  • A customary way of doing something.
  • The business or work of a professional person, such as a doctor or lawyer.
  • other
  • The customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing something.
  • Repeated exercise of an activity or skill in order to improve or maintain proficiency.
  • Repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it.
  • Repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it.
  • other
  • Work at or be engaged in (a profession).
  • verb
  • To perform an activity or exercise a skill repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency.
  • To work as a doctor or lawyer
  • To live according to the teachings of a religion
  • To do something many times to improve a skill

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express

US /ɪkˈsprɛs/

・

UK /ɪk'spres/

  • noun
  • A system for the rapid delivery of goods or messages.
  • A system for sending something quickly.
  • Fast train or bus
  • A train, bus, or other vehicle that travels rapidly with few or no stops.
  • adjective
  • Clearly and explicitly stated; not merely implied.
  • Traveling or able to travel at high speed.
  • Sent by a fast mail service
  • Moving or operating rapidly and directly.
  • Traveling at high speed
  • verb
  • To send something by fast mail
  • To state or show what you think or how you feel
  • other
  • To show (a feeling, thought, etc.) by words or actions.
  • To convey thoughts or feelings in words or by gestures and conduct.
  • To send (something) speedily to a destination.

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bit

US /bɪt/

・

UK /bɪt/

  • noun
  • A former coin worth 12.5 cents.
  • The basic unit of information in computing.
  • The basic unit of information in computing, representing a binary digit (0 or 1).
  • A mouthful of food.
  • Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
  • A particular thing or experience.
  • A person's contribution to an effort.
  • Small piece of something
  • A short period of time.
  • A very small amount of money.
  • A small piece or amount of something.
  • A small acting role or part in a performance.
  • The part of a tool that cuts or bores.
  • other
  • To do one's part.
  • Not at all.
  • verb
  • Past tense of 'bite'.
  • (E.g. of fish) to take bait and be caught
  • adverb
  • Slightly; somewhat.

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worth

US /wɚθ/

・

UK /wɜ:θ/

  • preposition
  • Deserving of (a particular action).
  • noun
  • The quality that renders something desirable or valuable.
  • The quality of being good or deserving praise.
  • The monetary or material value of something.
  • other
  • the financial, practical or moral value of somebody/something
  • adjective
  • Having a specified value.
  • other
  • having a particular value, especially in money

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exercise

US /ˈɛksɚˌsaɪz/

・

UK /'eksəsaɪz/

  • other
  • Physical activity that you do to make your body strong and healthy.
  • A military maneuver or simulated combat operation for training purposes.
  • A task or activity designed to test or improve one's knowledge or skill.
  • A task or activity designed to practice a skill or test knowledge.
  • A set of organized activities for training or practice.
  • other
  • Physical activity that you do to make your body strong and healthy.
  • The use or application of a skill, right, or quality.
  • The use or application of a faculty, right, or process.
  • The use or application of a skill, right, or quality.
  • other
  • To perform physical activities to stay healthy or improve fitness.
  • other
  • To train or drill in order to improve fitness or skill.
  • To use or apply a skill, right, or quality.
  • To exert influence or pressure.
  • To use a skill, right, or quality.
  • To use or apply a skill, right, or quality.
  • noun
  • Physical activity to increase health and strength
  • A task or activity designed to develop or improve a particular skill or ability.
  • Set of questions in a text book
  • verb
  • To work out to become stronger and healthier
  • To retain your ability or practice your skills

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similar

US /ˈsɪməlɚ/

・

UK /ˈsɪmələ(r)/

  • adjective
  • Nearly the same; alike

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