ESL Podcast 621 - Picking a Fight

What are you looking at? - a phrase used when one feels defensive and thinks another person is looking at oneself strangely, being critical or judgmental

What are you looking at? Every time I look up, you're staring at me.

You want a piece of me? - an informal question that asks whether another person wants to fight; a challenge for a fight

You want a piece of me? Go ahead and hit me! I can beat you, for sure.

You and what army? - an informal phrase showing that one doesn't believe another person is capable of doing what he or she just said, unless he or she has help from many other people

Do you really think you'll be able to make this company profitable again? You and what army? You have no idea how much debt we have.

to take (something) outside - to leave a bar or another room so that two or more people can fight and/or have a loud disagreement outdoors, away from other people

Boys, if you can't keep the noise down, you'll need to take your disagreement outside. Nobody wants to hear the two of you fighting with each other.

to pick a fight - to try to get another person to fight with oneself, usually by saying or doing something to cause the other person to become angry

Christopher tried to pick a fight with the rich man by saying horrible things about his wife.

to make peace - to make a situation calmer and more controlled or more manageable; to find a way to end an argument or a tense situation without fighting; to forgive another person and be forgiven by that person

Shane and his girlfriend have been fighting for a few days, but tonight he's going to try to make peace with her by cooking dinner and giving her flowers.

to hold (someone) off - to delay someone; to prevent someone from doing something for a period of time, usually at least until something else can happen

Somehow John was able to hold off the attackers until the police arrived.

to mind (one's) own business - to stay focused on oneself, without interfering with another person or becoming involved in another person's conversation or actions; to not pay attention to anyone else

Why are you asking me all these personal questions? Please just mind your own business.

to get in (one's) face - to bother, annoy, or upset another person, often by standing too close, asking personal questions, or doing something that is offensive

Homeless people often ask us for money when we walk downtown, but this time it was different, because the guy was really getting in our face.

to chill out - to calm down and relax; to stop shouting or being agitated or upset

After a stressful week at work, Iris chose to chill out by taking a bubble bath and watching an old movie.

fighting words - language that is aggressive and makes another person angry enough to want to fight; spoken statements that encourage another person to become angry, aggressive, and violent

Anyone who heard those fighting words would have become angry. It's amazing you had enough self-control not to hit him.

tail between (one's) legs - cowardly; scared and frightened; not brave

He always pretends to be brave, but whenever anything really happens, he runs away with his tail between his legs.

to stop in (one's) tracks - to immediately stop what one is doing and change one's behavior, often because one is very surprised, startled, shocked, or scared

Whenever Raj's cell phone rings, he stops in his tracks to take the call.

to weigh (one's) odds - to evaluate and assess one's likelihood of success; to try to determine whether one will be successful in what one wants to do

I know you enjoy playing the lottery, but if you really sit down and weigh your odds, you'll see that you're better off investing that money in stocks.

narrow escape - getting away from a dangerous or difficult situation without being harmed, but just barely

The firefighter made a narrow escape from the burning building, which collapsed just seconds after she walked out.

needless to say - without the need to say something because it is so obvious, clear, and easy to understand

Needless to say, I'd be very happy if I won a million dollars.

round - alcoholic drinks purchased for and drunken by a group of people at the same time, usually paid for by one individual

If I win, you'll buy a round of drinks, but if you win, I'll buy a round.

on (one/someone) - paid for one or by a particular person; the financial responsibility of one or a certain person

Thanks for buying me lunch today. The next time we go out together, it's on me.