Musical English Lessons International

TAILORING YOUR LANGUAGE-2 FOR ESL/EFL STUDENTS Exponents v Expletives (Profanities/Swearwords) By Bibi Baxter
More information will be added to this page from time to time
THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE Explanation (Scroll to next box) Telling someone to leave Telling someone to stop talking Bugger Piss Shit Sexual parts of the body RELATED PAGES Tailoring Your Language-1 (Multi-syllable Verbs v Phrasal Verbs + One-syllable Verbs) Tailoring Your Language-3 (Talking About Bodily Functions)
Exponents v Expletives (Profanities/Swearwords)
IMPORTANT: It is not my policy to publish expletives willy-nilly on this website; however, due to the export of English and American films containing a proliferation of swear-words, I have noticed that students of English worldwide use swear-words indiscriminately, because they have difficulty in deciding which language is suitable to use. Furthermore, many current pop songs contain expletives. I therefore hope this page helps students to understand that English swearwords (which have no meaning to them) can be offensive to native speakers and that there are many English people who do not use swear-words in their everyday vocabulary. When using English, it is important to tailor your language according to whom you are speaking, otherwise you may offend. For example: in rough company, coarse language and swearing might often be acceptable. On the other hand, many people from 55 upwards are still offended by swearing in general conversation, because when they were growing up it was considered unacceptable unless used in anger. The following are general rules, but there will be occasions when stronger language is necessary. The art is to know how to tailor your language to the situation and the people with whom you are dealing. Use polite language in formal situations and to senior members of society If you are angry and polite language is ineffective, use swearing, impolite or coarse language as appropriate, especially if it is already being directed at you Younger generations and rough company often prefer to use coarse language and/or swearing when communicating with each other. Start with polite language if someone is pestering you, but it is possible that stronger language may be necessary. (NOTE: In England, innocent bystanders are more likely to help you if you are not swearing or being coarse.)
TELLING SOMEONE TO LEAVE
POLITE	IMPOLITE		COARSE		SWEARING
Leave me alone, please! Please go away! It's time you went! Please leave! Kindly leave! USED BY POLICE -Move along, please	Go away! Push off! Clear off! 'Op it! TO A CHILD Hop along now! IDIOMS Go and have a funny run Go and play in the traffic Go and have a run and jump		Piss off! Bog off! Smeg off! Go forth and multiply!		Fuck off! Bugger off! IMPORTANT: Swearing is offensive and could trigger a violent reaction
TELLING SOMEONE TO STOP TALKING NOTE: Telling anyone to stop talking may cause offence, even when said politely.
POLITE	IMPOLITE		COARSE		SWEARING
-Please be quiet! -You've done enough damage, please don't say anything more. -You've said (quite) enough! -Would you please shut up! -Sssssh! (often with finger across lips and no sound) -Hush, hush (said gently to a baby)	-Shut up! -Silence! -Zip it! -Be quiet! -QUIET! (shouted) IDIOMS -Put a sock in it! -Button your lip!		-Belt up! -Shut your trap! -Shut the hell up!		-Shut the fuck up! -Shut your fucking mouth! IMPORTANT: Swearing is offensive and could trigger a violent reaction
EXPLETIVE WORD FAMILY
(regular) PHRASAL VERB	VERB		NOUN		ADJECTIVE
to fuck up (intransitive) = to make a mistake to fuck something up (type 1 phrasal verb) = to ruin, spoil something	to fuck someone = to have sex with someone		a fuck (the sexual act) a fucker (a person)		fucking = really, very, extreme
The use of the word 'BUGGER' by Londoners
Londoners tend to use the word 'bugger'. This is a word which is often considered unacceptable in polite society, as it has a sexual connotation (anal sex) and was once considered a swear word. Londoners use it as follows:-
ACCEPTABLE ANYWHERE			AS OFTEN USED BY LONDONERS
Blow me! Goodness me! (to express surprise)			Bugger me!
What a nuisance! Oh, no! I've made a mistake!			Bugger it!
You little rascal! =you cheeky/naughty little boy/girl			You little bugger! (referring to a child)
PISS
POLITE			COARSE
to be bored to be fed up to be annoyed about something to be annoyed with someone			IDIOM to be pissed off
very			ADVERB pissing
to be drunk			ADJECTIVE to be pissed
drinking heavily urinating			GERUND pissing (ref: pissing the night away in the song Chumbawumba)
to mess someone about to confuse someone to take advantage of someone to be unreliable, (accidentally, deliberately)			To piss someone about Similar to Type 1 Phrasal Verb, but can only be used as follows: verb + object or object pronoun + particle
to annoy someone to get on someone’s nerves			TYPE 1 PHRASAL VERB To piss someone off
to leave go away (imperative: piss off)			TYPE 4 PHRASAL VERB To piss off
to be binge drinking (drinking heavily)			IDIOM to be on the piss
to ridicule someone to take unfair advantage of someone to fool someone to tease someone			IDIOM to take the piss
alcohol/urine			COLLECTIVE NOUN piss
a mickey-taker, a teaser a scrounger someone who takes or tries to take advantage unfairly a deceitful person			NOUN a piss-taker
SHIT Variation: SHITE (Northern Term to lessen impact)
a person who is intoxicated & paralytic an insulting name given to someone who is not nice			NOUN shit-face
dirty horrible unpleasant			ADJECTIVE shitty
to be very frightened			IDIOM to shit one's pants
to go to the toilet in one's clothes to be very frightened			REFLEXIVE VERB to shit oneself
to grass, to tell on someone to let someone down to be unfaithful			TYPE 3 PHRASAL VERB to shit on someone
cannabis, or skunk faeces rubbish			COLLECTIVE NOUN shit
(Can be said affectionately, or angrily) You horrible person			NOUN You little shit
SEXUAL PARTS OF THE BODY
EXTRA POLITE		ACCEPTABLE		UNACCEPTABLE/COARSE
posterior rear		bottom anus		arse bum
member private parts		penis willy		prick tool
private parts		vagina		min cunt
decolletage		cleavage
		bust breasts		tits
More will be added at a later date; there are no plans at present