ESL Podcast 529 - Insulting Other People
to mess around - to do unimportant things to have fun when one has nothing else to do; to waste time doing silly things
We've been messing around on the computer for hours. Don't you think we should start our homework soon?
to pipe down - to be quiet; to stop making noise
Hey, pipe down in there! We're trying to sleep!
to get on (someone's) nerves - to annoy or bother someone; to do things that make another person upset or angry
It really gets on my nerves when you leave your dirty clothes on the floor.
disgrace - something that is bad, unacceptable, and shameful; something that cannot be approved of
In the past, getting divorced was a disgrace, but now it is more acceptable.
to get a rise out of (someone) - to get an angry reaction from someone; to make something do someone in response to one's actions or words
He's only doing that to get a rise out of you. He thinks it's funny when you get mad. Try to ignore him instead.
to wave (someone) off - to move one's hand in the air in a way that shows one wants another person to go away or leave a place
We offered to help Ms. Klein clean up the classroom, but she waved us off and said she could do it by herself.
unpredictable - acting in an unexpected way, so that one cannot know what will happen next
That movie was so unpredictable! I had no idea it would end that way.
slight - a rude or disrespectful criticism; something that one says or does that makes another person angry or upset
When you criticized the way Marie's children were dressed, she took it as a slight to her skills as a mother.
to set (someone) off - to make someone very angry; to cause someone to do something, especially out of anger
It really set Kelvin off when he found out his brother had been lying to him.
to insult - to offend; to do or say something to make another person angry and show that one does not have respect for that person
When we were kids, I used to insult my little brother by calling him a fat little pig.
to ask for trouble - to do something even though one knows it will create problems or make another person angry
If you drive you parents' car without their permission, you're just asking for trouble.
to flip (someone) off - to hold up the middle finger of one's hand as a very rude insult
Why did that driver flip us off? We didn't do anything wrong - he did!
two can play that game - a phrase used to show that one is going to do something bad or mean to another person, because he or she has done that same bad or mean thing to oneself
When Sarah found out that Parham was telling lies about her, she said, "Two can play that game" and started spreading lies about him.
take that - a playful phrase used to give emphasis to what one is doing to another person, especially if one is almost hurting that person by hitting or winning in a game
Wow, you threw that ball really hard! Take that! I can throw just as hard as you can!
to give as good as (one) gets - for person A to do to person B exactly what person B did to person A, especially if it is a negative behavior, or something that annoys or hurts another person
Our neighbors are stealing our tomatoes, but we're going to give as good as we get. Tonight, we'll go into their garden and steal all of their strawberries!
to moon (someone) - to pull down one's pants and underwear and show one's bottom (the part of the body one sits on) to another person, either to be funny or as an insult
The teenage boys drove through town, mooning people through the car windows.
nuts - crazy; acting in illogical, non-rational ways
Whenever we go to the park, the dog goes nuts, barking and jumping in circles.
watch me - a phrase used to give emphasis to what one is going to do next, especially when the other person doesn't believe that one will really do it
You're not going to wear that to the gym today, are you?
Yes, I am. Watch me!