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Learning Vocabulary: The language of arguments

Learning Vocabulary: The language of arguments

In this week's Premier Skills English Podcast, Jack and Rich talk about the language of arguments. They explore the language we use when we are angry or annoyed and also look at the phrases people use to respond to people who are angry. Your task this week is to add new language you learn in this podcast to a dialogue we give you. Don't forget to listen to the end of the podcast because we have a new football phrase for you to guess, too. Enjoy!

Transcript

If the listening was a bit difficult, you can listen again and read the transcript at the same time.
Read the transcript and listen at the same time.

Welcome - The language of arguments

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich

Jack: and I’m Jack

Rich: and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast

Jack: Where we talk about football and help you with your English.

Rich: We recommend that you listen to this podcast on the Premier Skills English website because that is where we have the transcript, language examples, activities, quizzes and a discussion page to help you understand everything we talk about.

Jack: However,  if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, you could leave your answers in the review section. We do read all the reviews and would love to hear from you. What’s happening this week, Rich?

Rich: In this week’s podcast, we’re going to help you with vocabulary. More specifically we’re going to look at some of the words and phrases people use when they are arguing.

Jack: Yes, you know … those discussions that get a bit heated, one person thinks one thing and the other person thinks another.

Rich: But we always agree with each other, don’t we Jack?

Jack: Sure Rich. Like I was saying earlier, Arsenal play the best football in the Premier League.

Rich: You’ve got to be mad to think that! I don’t think they even play the best football in North London!

Jack: Alright, keep your hair on! Like you were saying, we always agree with each other!

Rich: Very good. Anyway, we’ll be looking at some of the words and phrases we use when we are arguing a little later.

Jack: Before all that, let’s look at last week’s football phrase.

Football Phrase 1

Rich: Last week’s football phrase was connected to the recent holidays in the UK.

Jack: That’s right. The football phrase, or in this case word, was cracker.

Rich: In football, a cracker describes a goal that is very good and is often used to describe a very powerful shot. Other similar words are screamer or belter. You might hear a commentator say: That’s an absolute belter or that’s an absolute screamer or that’s an absolute cracker!

Jack: But what is the connection with the holidays?

Rich: Well, crackers or Christmas crackers are coloured cardboard tubes that make a big bang when two people pull them apart. In the centre, you will usually find a written joke, a small toy and a paper hat.

Jack: Well done to Thaitn from Vietnam, Elghoul from Algeria, Lakerwang from China, Liubomyr from Ukraine, and Rafael Robson from Brazil. All of you got the right answer.

Rich: At the end of this podcast. we will have another football phrase for you to guess.

Arguments

Jack: In the next section, you are going to hear me and Rich having an argument. We want you to answer two questions while you are listening.

Rich: Question one: What is the argument about? And question two: Who do you think wins the argument?

Roleplay 1

Jack: You cannot be serious?!

Rich: I’m totally serious. The seats are there for people to sit in. 

Jack: Everybody stands up. We’re not at the theatre you know.

Rich: That’s my point exactly. Can you imagine someone at the theatre standing up in front of you and shouting all the way through a play? You’d lose your temper with someone or storm out in a huff.

Jack: I don’t think you’d storm out. You’d probably just ask them to sit down, please. But a match is different.

Rich: No, it’s not. Your team have a corner and some big bloke stands up in the row in front you can’t see anything. It does my head in.

Jack: It does your head in? I think you’re just winding me up now. Is this because you're short?

Rich: Now who’s winding up who here. I am not short.

Jack: Well, shorter than average maybe …

Rich: Shut up! 

Jack: Keep your hair on! No need to get offended … I was just saying.

Rich: Just saying what? That I’m little … I’m not little … I’m nearly six foot …

Jack: When you’re on a ladder!

Rich: You’re really getting on my nerves now. I’m just trying to say that fans should use the seats in stadiums more.

Jack: OK shorty.

Rich: That’s it I’m off.

Jack: Rich! Come back! I was only kidding.

...

Rich: Now, here are the answers to those two questions we gave you before the roleplay. 

Jack: The argument was about whether football fans should be allowed to stand up at football matches.

Rich: And who won the argument? Well, I stormed off so I suppose Jack won the argument but I’m not sure anybody did.

Jack: In the next section, you are going to listen to Rich arguing about something else. We want you to answer two questions while you are listening.

Rich: Question one: What am I angry about? And question two: Do you agree with me?

Roleplay 2

Rich: Look at these.

Jack: What are they? They just look like scarves to me.

Rich: These scarves. They are horrible. I can’t stand them. Why do you go to a football match, Jack?

Jack: Er.. to enjoy the football….

Rich: Yes, I suppose so, but you also go to the match to support your team. And these scarves which are called half and half scarves are just horrible. Look at this! Manchester City on one half and Manchester United on the other - it’s just plain wrong.

Jack: What if you support both teams?

Rich: Come on! Nobody supports both teams. You always have a preference or you sit with the home fans or the away fans.

Jack: What if you don’t support either team?

Rich: Then don’t buy one of these scarves.

Jack: But some people like to have a souvenir. I think they’re quite popular with tourists ...

Rich: Then they should buy a programme or use your ticket as a souvenir. 

Jack: OK, I have some news for you, Rich. It might help you calm down. Look!

Rich: You’ve bought one! You have got to be joking! I’m going!

Jack: OK, maybe it won’t help you calm down!

...

Rich: Now, the answers to those questions we gave you before the roleplay. 

Jack: Rich was complaining about half and half scarves and arguing that they shouldn’t exist.

Rich: Do you agree with me?

Jack: I’m not sure. I don’t think they do any harm. A strange thing to lose your temper about if you ask me.

Rich: You’re probably right. In the next section, we’re going to take a look at some of the language we used in the roleplays.

Language Focus 

Jack: In the roleplays, we used lots of words and phrases to show that we were angry or to respond to someone who is angry.

Rich: Let’s start with some of the words we used to show anger or irritation at something.

Jack: I really like the phrase you’re doing my head in or it does my head in. 

Rich: This phrase is used to show that something or someone is annoying you or making you angry. It’s a very informal phrase so we only use it when we are speaking.

Jack: Rich said it does his head in when people stand in front of him at the football match.

Rich: It does do my head in. You’re right. Also, in the roleplay, Jack did my head in when he was making fun of my height. He was getting on my nerves and winding me up.

Jack: Those are two other useful phrases: to get on someone’s nerves and to wind someone up.

Rich: To get on someone’s nerves means to annoy someone a lot or make someone angry by doing something that is annoying to them.

Jack: Rich said that I was really getting on his nerves in the roleplay. He wanted me to shut up.

Rich: To wind someone up is a similar phrase. It means to make someone angry or annoyed. It’s a phrasal verb but you can think of it in a literal way too.

Jack: Imagine an old fashioned toy like a little animal or toy soldier. You turn something and then the toy moves by itself. You wind it up.

Rich: It’s similar when you wind someone up. You make fun of them or annoy them and then watch them explode!

Jack: When someone is angry you might say they have lost their temper and when they are really angry they might walk away in an angry manner.

Rich: This is when we use the phrasal verb to storm out or storm off or even to storm off in a huff. These all mean to leave a place in an angry way.

Jack: We also use some specific words to react to people who are angry. These can often make people angrier if you don’t use them correctly.

Rich: We might tell someone to calm down, relax or chill out or even just say easy for take it easy.

Jack: Be careful though because an angry person might say something like ‘I will not calm down’ or ‘I will not take it easy’!

Rich: Other phrases we used in the roleplay were: keep your hair on and no need to get offended.

Jack: These phrases are a little aggressive and will probably just wind up an angry person even more.

Rich: Both of them mean to stop being angry or upset but they are usually used when someone thinks that a person is getting angry unnecessarily.

Jack: Take a look at the activities on the Premier Skills English website to check your understanding of these words and phrases.

Task

Rich: This week’s task is to listen to roleplay two again. In roleplay two, I was complaining about half and half scarves. 

Jack: However, Rich didn’t use any of the vocabulary we introduced in the previous section.

Rich: Your task is to listen to the roleplay or read the transcript and decide where you could use some of the words and phrases we introduced in the last section and used in the first roleplay.

Jack: The words and phrases we want you to try to use are: do my head in, get on your nerves, wind me up, calm down, keep your hair on, and no need to get offended.

Football Phrase 2

Rich: The final section this week is this week’s football phrase. Have you got one Jack?

Jack: I have and it’s very much connected to this week’s topic. The phrase is to *** ***. The phrase means to become really angry and also is another way of saying that a player was sent off. You could say that the player should have **** *** for a really bad tackle and the opponent *** *** when the referee only awarded a yellow. 

Rich: If you know the answer to this week’s football phrase, write your answer in the comments section at the bottom of the page. We will announce your name in next week’s podcast if you get the right answer.

Jack: Right, that’s all we have time for this week. Bye for now and enjoy your football!

Vocabulary

How much did you understand?

In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some words and phrases that might be new for you. Do you know the words in bold?

Yes, you know … those discussions that get a bit heated, one person thinks one thing and the other person thinks another.

Your team have a corner and some big bloke stands up in the row in front of you, you can’t see anything. It does my head in!

Rich! Come back! I was only kidding.

They should buy a programme or use your ticket as a souvenir.

There were a few more tricky words and phrases in the podcast. Do you know what they all mean? Try the activity below, then, listen to the podcast again to hear how we used the words. This can really help your understanding.

Activity 1

Activity 1: In this activity, try to match the words and phrases to their definitions. All of the words were in this week's podcast.
Can you match the words to the definitions?

It's sometimes better to count to ten before you talk to the referee.

Language

Arguments

In this week's podcast, Rich got angry a couple of times. In the first roleplay, he got angry with Jack and in the second roleplay, he got angry with people who buy half and half scarves. Let's start by looking at some of the words and phrases Rich used when he was angry:

Angry People

In the both roleplays, Rich was angry and he used these words and phrases to show that he was angry:

Rich: You’re really getting on my nerves now. I’m just trying to say that fans should use the seats in stadiums more.

Rich: You’ve got to be mad to think that! I don’t think they even play the best football in North London!

Rich: Your team have a corner and some big bloke stands up in the row in front you can’t see anything. It does my head in.

The fan in the Arsenal shirt looks angry but it's the bloke behind him who should be really angry. He can't see a thing when the Arsenal fan stands up!

Responding to angry people:

In both roleplays, RIch was angry and Jack responded to him in different ways. Take a look at some of the words and phrases Jack used:

Jack: Alright, keep your hair on! Like you were saying, we always agree with each other!

Jack: No need to get offended … I was just saying.

Jack: OK, I have some news for you, Rich. It might help you calm down

Do you think the phrases above will help an angry person relax or make them angrier? What do RIch and Jack say about this in the podcast?

It's not just players and fans who get angry. Here's the Newcastle manager, Rafa Benitez. I wonder what has upset him?

Vocabulary

Arguments

In the first roleplay, Rich and Jack used some other phrases connected to arguments. Take a look at these sentences from the podcast. Do you understand the words in bold?

Can you imagine someone at the theatre standing up in front of you and shouting all the way through a play? You’d lose your temper with someone or storm out in a huff.

I think you’re just winding me up now.

These scarves. They are horrible. I can’t stand them.

You’ve bought one! You have got to be joking! I’m going.

Getting angry is nothing new in football. Here's a photo from the first season of the Premier League (1992-1993).

Quiz

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Task

Getting Angry

Rich got angry about half and half scarves in the roleplay. Do you like them or do they annoy you?

Your task this week is to add some of the vocabulary you have learned in this podcast to a dialogue.

In the second roleplay, we didn't use any of the vocabulary we used in the first roleplay. We want you to listen to or read the second roleplay again and add the new vocabulary where you think is appropriate.

The words we want you to add are:

  • do my head in, get on your nerves, wind me up, calm down, keep your hair on, and no need to get offended.

Here is the dialogue to help you with this task:

Roleplay 2

Rich: Look at these.

Jack: What are they? They just look like scarves to me.

Rich: These scarves. They are horrible. I can’t stand them. Why do you go to a football match, Jack?

Jack: Er.. to enjoy the football….

Rich: Yes, I suppose so, but you also go to the match to support your team. And these scarves which are called half and half scarves are just horrible. Look at this! Manchester City on one half and Manchester United on the other - it’s just plain wrong.

Jack: What if you support both teams?

Rich: Come on! Nobody supports both teams. You always have a preference or you sit with the home fans or the away fans.

Jack: What if you don’t support either team?

Rich: Then don’t buy one of these scarves.

Jack: But some people like to have a souvenir. I think they’re quite popular with tourists ...

Rich: Then they should buy a programme or use your ticket as a souvenir. 

Jack: OK, I have some news for you, Rich. It might help you calm down. Look!

Rich: You’ve bought one! You have got to be joking! I’m going!

Jack: OK, maybe it won’t help you calm down!

Tell us your answers to this task at the bottom of the page and don't forget to make a guess at our football phrase.

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
16/10/2021
TR
5558
points

Task and Phrases
• I’ve got to be mad to think that inflation rate will decrease in the future. It’s my point.
• Keep your hair on I'll repay all my debts what you gave me earlier.
• Many times keepers guess right direction at the penalty kick. However they can't prevent goal because of a real belter.
• He stormed out of TV discussion program without looking back when witnesses that are abused by him came to studio.
• Halves scarves are economical for family member fans.
• When I get on nerves by the senseless speaks of someone I start to singing, thus I never lose my temper-:)
• Generally unsuccessful football managers easily get offended to the referee in front of TV cameras for not to be fired-:)
Note
• To be agree with all people or on any issue causes to stop the progress. The main subject is to know how to argue. Calmly and politely.


hsn's picture
hsn
16/10/2021 13:05
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5558

Task and Phrases
• I’ve got to be mad to think that inflation rate will decrease in the future. It’s my point.
• Keep your hair on I'll repay all my debts what you gave me earlier.
• Many times keepers guess right direction at the penalty kick. However they can't prevent goal because of a real belter.
• He stormed out of TV discussion program without looking back when witnesses that are abused by him came to studio.
• Halves scarves are economical for family member fans.
• When I get on nerves by the senseless speaks of someone I start to singing, thus I never lose my temper-:)
• Generally unsuccessful football managers easily get offended to the referee in front of TV cameras for not to be fired-:)
Note
• To be agree with all people or on any issue causes to stop the progress. The main subject is to know how to argue. Calmly and politely.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
02/06/2020
TR
6539
points

I think this week's football phrase is ( kicked out ) or ( wind up )


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
02/06/2020 14:39
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

I think this week's football phrase is ( kicked out ) or ( wind up )

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
02/06/2020
TR
6539
points

Task :
Rich: Look at these.
Jack: What are they? They just look like scarves to me.
Rich: These scarves. They ( do my head on )
I can’t stand them. Why do you go to a football match, Jack?
Jack: Er.. to enjoy the football….
Rich: Yes, I suppose so, but you also go to the match to support your team. And these scarves which are called half and half scarves are ( winding me up )
Look at this! Manchester City on one half and Manchester United on the other - it’s just plain wrong.
Jack: ( No need to get offended ) , Rich.
What if you support both teams?
Rich: ( Don't get on my nerves ) Nobody supports both teams. You always have a preference or you sit with the home fans or the away fans.
Jack: ( Calm down ) What if you don’t support either team?
Rich: Then don’t buy one of these scarves.
Jack: But some people like to have a souvenir.
I think they’re quite popular with tourists ...
Rich: Then they should buy a programme or use your ticket as a souvenir.
Jack: OK, I have some news for you, Rich. It might help you calm down. Look!
Rich: You’ve bought one! ( You storm me out in a huff ! ) I’m going!
Jack: ( Keep your hair on ) , maybe it won’t help you calm down!


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
02/06/2020 14:32
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

Task :
Rich: Look at these.
Jack: What are they? They just look like scarves to me.
Rich: These scarves. They ( do my head on )
I can’t stand them. Why do you go to a football match, Jack?
Jack: Er.. to enjoy the football….
Rich: Yes, I suppose so, but you also go to the match to support your team. And these scarves which are called half and half scarves are ( winding me up )
Look at this! Manchester City on one half and Manchester United on the other - it’s just plain wrong.
Jack: ( No need to get offended ) , Rich.
What if you support both teams?
Rich: ( Don't get on my nerves ) Nobody supports both teams. You always have a preference or you sit with the home fans or the away fans.
Jack: ( Calm down ) What if you don’t support either team?
Rich: Then don’t buy one of these scarves.
Jack: But some people like to have a souvenir.
I think they’re quite popular with tourists ...
Rich: Then they should buy a programme or use your ticket as a souvenir.
Jack: OK, I have some news for you, Rich. It might help you calm down. Look!
Rich: You’ve bought one! ( You storm me out in a huff ! ) I’m going!
Jack: ( Keep your hair on ) , maybe it won’t help you calm down!

mahmoud9877's picture
mahmoud9877
25/01/2019
EG
16
points

thanks a lot i have many gains from this lesson


mahmoud9877's picture
mahmoud9877
25/01/2019 15:10
Egypt
Liverpool
16

thanks a lot i have many gains from this lesson

acicala's picture
acicala
16/01/2019
ES
1646
points

I don't think I get to this week's football phrase in time, but here's my guess for it: "*** ***".


acicala's picture
acicala
16/01/2019 20:54
Spain
Chelsea
1646

I don't think I get to this week's football phrase in time, but here's my guess for it: "*** ***".

acicala's picture
acicala
16/01/2019
ES
1646
points

Rich: Yes, I suppose so, but you also go to the match to support your team. And these scarves which are called half and half scarves are just horrible. Look at this! Manchester City on one half and Manchester United on the other - They do my head in.

Jack: Calm down! What if you support both teams?

...

Rich: Then don’t buy one of these scarves. You’re getting on my nerves.

Jack: No need to get offended. Some people like to have a souvenir. I think they’re quite popular with tourists...

Rich: Then they should buy a programme or use your ticket as a souvenir.

Jack: Keep your hair on, Rich, I have some news for you. It might help you calm down. Look!

Rich: You’ve bought one! You’re winding me up! I’m going!


acicala's picture
acicala
16/01/2019 20:44
Spain
Chelsea
1646

Rich: Yes, I suppose so, but you also go to the match to support your team. And these scarves which are called half and half scarves are just horrible. Look at this! Manchester City on one half and Manchester United on the other - They do my head in.

Jack: Calm down! What if you support both teams?

...

Rich: Then don’t buy one of these scarves. You’re getting on my nerves.

Jack: No need to get offended. Some people like to have a souvenir. I think they’re quite popular with tourists...

Rich: Then they should buy a programme or use your ticket as a souvenir.

Jack: Keep your hair on, Rich, I have some news for you. It might help you calm down. Look!

Rich: You’ve bought one! You’re winding me up! I’m going!

Rafael Robson's picture
Rafael Robson
12/01/2019
BR
615
points

Rich: Yes...Look at this! Manchester City on one half and Manchester United on the other - it’s just plain wrong. They do my head in.

Jack: Calm down, Rich. What if you support both teams?

Rich: Come on! You are getting on my nerves. Nobody supports both teams...

Jack: Keep your hair on. What if you don’t support either team?

Rich: You’ve bought one! You are winding me up! I’m going!

Jack: No need to get offended. OK, maybe it won’t help you calm down.


Rafael Robson's picture
Rafael Robson
12/01/2019 16:17
Brazil
Tottenham Hotspur
615

Rich: Yes...Look at this! Manchester City on one half and Manchester United on the other - it’s just plain wrong. They do my head in.

Jack: Calm down, Rich. What if you support both teams?

Rich: Come on! You are getting on my nerves. Nobody supports both teams...

Jack: Keep your hair on. What if you don’t support either team?

Rich: You’ve bought one! You are winding me up! I’m going!

Jack: No need to get offended. OK, maybe it won’t help you calm down.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
11/01/2019
DZ
3988
points

Guess at football phrase, come out.

Rich: These scarves. They did my head in.

Rich: Come on! Nobody supports both teams. You are getting on my nerves.

Rich: You are winding me up with this issue about tourists.

Jack: Calm down a bit. These scarves could be used as souvenirs.

Jack: There is no need to be offended. They are just goods that could be bought by anybody who likes to.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
11/01/2019 12:48
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

Guess at football phrase, come out.

Rich: These scarves. They did my head in.

Rich: Come on! Nobody supports both teams. You are getting on my nerves.

Rich: You are winding me up with this issue about tourists.

Jack: Calm down a bit. These scarves could be used as souvenirs.

Jack: There is no need to be offended. They are just goods that could be bought by anybody who likes to.

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
10/01/2019
UA
4417
points

Unfortunately, this week football phrase is not covered by the asterisks in the transcript (((


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
10/01/2019 11:18
Ukraine
Watford
4417

Unfortunately, this week football phrase is not covered by the asterisks in the transcript (((

Rich's picture
Rich
10/01/2019
ES
594
points

Hi Liubomyr

Thanks for letting us know. I've covered it up now. Sorry, it was too late for you!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
10/01/2019 11:36
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Liubomyr

Thanks for letting us know. I've covered it up now. Sorry, it was too late for you!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6578
2mobeckham6539
3hsn5558
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74676
2Ukraine33870
3Spain29492
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23475
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20455
8Turkey20109
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146932
2Liverpool111418
3Chelsea90252
4Arsenal86253
5Manchester City58861
6Tottenham Hotspur19474
7Newcastle United10626
8West Ham United7671
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Crystal Palace4539

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Skills: Listening

Language: Words and phrases we use when we are angry

Language: Responding to angry people

Task: Adding new language to a dialogue