Mardy: The English We Speak

Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English
We Speak. I’m Feifei.
Rob: And hi, I’m Rob. Hey, Feifei.
Why the long face?
Feifei: What’s wrong with my face?
Rob: I mean, why are you looking so…
grumpy?
Feifei: Grumpy!?
Rob: Yes… moody.
Feifei: Moody! There is nothing wrong –
this is my normal face. Why are you
throwing so many insults at me?
Rob: Oh come on, you do look
a bit bad-tempered.
Feifei: I’m not bad-tempered.
But I’m getting angry now.
Rob: Oh great! Then I can describe you
as mardy.
Feifei: Mardy? I hope that’s not
another insult.
Rob: It’s not an insult – but ‘mardy’ does
describe someone who is in a bad mood,
moans a lot and gets annoyed easily.
So, thanks for demonstrating that, Feifei!
Feifei: My pleasure!
Let’s hear some examples…
There are no desks for Pedro to work at
today so he has to sit on the sofa –
no wonder he is so mardy.
My boyfriend is always so mardy – nothing
seems to please him. Maybe I shouldn’t
have come home drunk last night!
Steer clear of me today.
I only had four hours sleep last night
and I’m really mardy today.
Feifei: This is The English We Speak from
BBC Learning English and we’re talking
about the word ‘mardy’, which describes
someone in a bad mood. As I was saying, Rob,
I am not mardy!
Rob: If you say so, Feifei.
Feifei: But I know something
to make you mardy.
Rob: Oh yes?
Feifei: You’re going to have to record
this programme again.
Rob: What? Again? Why?
Feifei: You forgot to explain that ‘mardy’
also describes someone who is
sulky or grumpy.
Rob: Hmm, you’re just being awkward.
I’m not going to start this programme
again – I’m too busy.
Right, I’m off to get a coffee. Goodbye!
Feifei: Who’s mardy now?
Or he is just acting? Bye!