Words you never learn at school (1): swear words

Words you never learn at school (1): swear words 

(Level: B2 / Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / ***) 

Picture credit: daily.jstor.org 

Before watching / listening

You are going to watch a lesson by Leila from "Leila and Sabrah You Tube Channel" (Love English with Leila and Sabrah) focusing on the use of some English swear words which are ranked as mild or a bit more offensive. 

Every swear word in the English language has indeed been ranked in order of offensiveness (mild, medium, strong, the strongest). 

There are definitely words that should never be used because they are utterly vulgar, too rude or totally inappropriate ("the strongest" category).

A good example of such a word that everyone knows is the F-word (F**k) and its derivatives like motherf****er or f****ing !   

They should never be used as they are the most vulgar words. 

Vocabulary

bollocks: a vulgar word for testicles

to catch one's drift: to see what someone means    

     Do you catch my drift? = Do you understand what I mean?  

While watching / listening

Now listen to Leila who is giving an interesting array of milder,  socially acceptable and commonly used English swear words.

They are the sort of words you’ve never been taught at school ! 

Listen carefully and try to remember as much as you can! 

You can find more videos from Love English with Leila and Sabrah by clicking HERE

After watching / listening

Fill in the sentences with the missing words / phrases! 

More than one answer is sometimes possible! 

They went on a drinking spree. Obviously they were ............................................ (= their intention was really to get drunk (or get ...............................).

She slams doors when she's ..............................  (= angry). 

Oh, .................................................., I can't believe I forgot to phone her. 

We spent a .................................   awful holiday.

The boss told her off  for being late again = The boss ................................................for being late again. 

........................................!  You're saying you didn't get my texts! I don't believe you! 

........................................!  (a milder and more socially acceptable phrase for: "Piss off!" or "F***k off!").

I bought this new gadget! It's absolutely ...................................  ( = amazing / great...) !

I've been trying to call the ministry all day long!  I've had enough of it!  ..........................! 

She's been chatting on Messenger all evening: she's done .......................... (= nothing).

Their concert I attended last year was ......................................  (the best ever).

When you are finished, you can check your answers!

They went on a drinking spree. Obviously they were on the piss (= their intention was really to get drunk (or get pissed).

She slams doors when she's pissed off  (= angry). 

Oh, bloody hell / bleeding hell /  bollocks ...   , I can't believe I forgot to phone her. 

We spent a bloody awful holiday.    

"Bloody" as an intensifier (before an adjective); but also as an adjective in: We spent a bloody holiday. 

Also: We spent a bleeding / blinking / blooming / sodding...  (awful) holiday.

The boss told her off  for being late again = The boss gave her a bollocking for being late again. 

Bollocks!  You're saying you didn't get my texts! I don't believe you! 

Sod off! (a milder and more socially acceptable phrase for: "Piss off!" or "F***k off!").

I bought this new gadget! It's absolutely bollocks ( = amazing / great...) !

I've been trying to call the ministry all day long!  I've had enough of it!  Sod it! 

She's been chatting on Messenger all evening: she's done sod all (= nothing).

Their concert I attended last year was the dog's bollocks (the best ever).