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BBC Learning English How to Complain (informal) Callum + William - Oh not again! Will, will you for once in your life, please do the washing up! - I did it, I did it on Sunday! - Yeah, but it’s Friday now, for goodness sake! I’m just fed up with the way you leave everything lying around in the kitchen because nobody can cook anything there without cleaning up your mess first and I’m just sick and tired of it! Jackie: As we heard, Callum is not happy with William because he never seems to do the washing up. One expression Callum uses to show his anger is ‘for goodness sake!’ The phrase shows he’s really annoyed, frustrated and exasperated. ‘For goodness sake!’ We can also tell he’s annoyed by the tone of his voice: there’s quite a difference between‘For goodness sake!’ Which sounds a bit annoyed, but quite relaxed, and ‘For goodness sake!’ Which sounds like the person is very angry! Callum Yeah, but it’s Friday now, for goodness sake! I’m just fed up

with the way you leave everything lying around in the kitchen Jackie: Another expression he uses is ‘I’m fed up with’Listen to some more examples with ‘fed up with’ Examples I’m fed up with him! I’m fed up with the trains always being late! I’m fed up with the way she leaves her rubbish on the floor! I am fed up with you bringing your boring – I won’t say ‘boring’ boring friends round. Jackie: Let’s listen to Callum again. This time, listen out for the expression he uses at the end of his outburst. Callum I’m just fed up with the way you leave everything lying around in the kitchen because nobody can cook anything there without cleaning up your mess first and I’m just sick and tired of it! Jackie: He ends with ‘I’m sick and tired of it!’ This means more or less the same thing as ‘I’m fed up with it!’ You could also just say: ‘I’m tired of it!’ Or, ‘I’m sick of it!’ Or even, ‘I’m sick of you!’ A bit like William does here

William I’m sick of you always going on at me about these stupid things that don’t matter! Jackie: We often use the word ‘always’ when we want to make accusations or complaints about something which someone does often. William and Callum - You’re always leaving it for me. - But why is it, why is it that it’s always you that tells me what to do. Jackie: ‘Never’ comes up quite often too ‘You never do the washing up!’ ‘You never say you love me!’ In this next clip, we’re going to hear three separate expressions to show annoyance. See if you can spot them. Callum What really gets under my skin is I just hate the way you come home late and make so much noise when I’m in bed. I’m sick of it! Jackie: Did you spot them? The first one was, ‘what really gets under my skin’ it’s a way of saying that something really irritates you and makes you angry. Callum What really gets under my skin Jackie: It’s followed straight away by another expression of annoyance:

‘I hate the way you’ Callum What really gets under my skin is I just hate the way you come home late. Jackie: And ‘I’m sick of it!’ Callum I’m sick of it! Jackie: If Callum hates the way William makes a lot of noise at night, William hates the way Callum makes a lot of noise in the mornings. William Well, if we’re talking about noise, how about this: ‘mrroooo,’ that’s the noise that I hear every morning at about six o’ clock with you blow-drying your hair, Callum. And yet, every‘mrroooo!’ I’m sick of that! Its got to stop because it just can’t carry on! I’ve had enough! Jackie: William uses the expressions: ‘Its got to stop!’ ‘It can’t carry on!’ and ‘I’ve had enough!’ Firm and clear phrases to deliver your message that you want someone to stop doing something. William Its got to stop because it just can’t carry on! I’ve had enough! Jackie: So let’s end with a recap of those expressions: For goodness sake! I’m fed up with the

way you I’m sick of I’m tired of I’m sick and tired of You always You never What really gets under my skin is I just hate the way you Its got to stop! It just can’t carry on! I’ve had enough! Jackie: And that’s where we’ll end this week’s programme!