Hi and welcome back to Love English. Now most of you are used to learning idioms
or phrasal verbs maybe a bit of grammar with love English but today I'm going to
help you with something that I think could be particularly difficult tricky
situation that you might find yourselves in today we are looking at ways to deal
with rude comments rude or unpleasant people people that might use bad
language against you they could be sexist racist or just generally negative
towards a specific group of people often because of ignorance and a lack of
understanding but sometimes just because they are plain stupid now this lesson is
not about responding to those comments in a way that can actually lower you to
their level I'm not going to give you any language that could be insulting or
rude I'm going to share with you my nine expressions that I think are the best
way to deal with people that are rude they might make them think about what
they have said or simply make them look the fool that they are remember two
wrongs do not make a right so using bad language or calling them
names is only going to make you as bad as them when you have a good
understanding of a language you can rise above these people you can actually put
them in their place and address the bad language or stupid things they have said
so these expressions are smart they are classy
they are wise and they are making the most of the English language to make you
sound smarter so remember language is power and these nine expressions are
going to give you that power back to deal with such foolish stupid and rude
comments
if ignoring these people is not an option if something they have said is
particularly offensive to you or the people you care about then this first
expression might help them think about what they have said I'm sorry what did
you say using an intonation that expresses shock or disbelief might make
them reconsider what they've said or rephrase it in a less offensive way it
could even make them realize just how rude they were being so number one
simply ask them I'm sorry what did you say number two is a fantastic expression
it is one that really makes people think about what they are saying sometimes you
might add at the beginning my mother always told me my mother always told me
my mother always told me if you don't have anything nice to say that's not to
say anything at all if you don't have anything nice to say
best not to say anything at all now this expression could be worded slightly
differently but the essence is that better to keep your mouth shut if you
haven't got anything decent to say anything positive and this really is a
common expression in English when people are facing negative comments or indeed
rudeness my mother always told me if you haven't got anything nice to say best
not to say anything at all number three similarly it's really
focusing on the fact that being rude using bad language or making very
negative comments that can be offensive is a little bit of a waste of time this
comment is actually one that I came up with that's not a very productive
comment is it that's not a very productive comment is it if someone's
been rude negative offensive in the office amongst your group of friends at
school at uni you could simply just make them aware of the fact that what they're
saying is not really helping anybody that's not a very productive comment is
it the question tag there is rhetorical you're not actually expecting an answer
back but if they try let's see what kind of justification they can give for being
so rude right number four and five essentially idiomatic expressions that
have very similar meanings it's basically making people think that
perhaps they're being a little bit hypocritical they might be criticizing
somebody for doing something that they themselves actually do so some very
common and wise idiomatic expressions in English to help you deal with rude
comments are people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones people in glass
houses shouldn't throw stones essentially when you're making a
negative comment towards somebody when you're saying something offensive rude
or judging somebody you should be careful because you yourself might have
similar characteristics or qualities so to criticize another person for that is
well hypocritical number five pot calling the kettle black
well that's pot calling the kettle black isn't it hello pot calling the kettle
black this expression essentially means again if you're criticizing somebody for
a characteristic that you yourself may have then you're essentially being a
hypocrite and you are in no position to make that kind of judgment or comment on
another person so these are just fantastic classically British
expressions to use when dealing with somebody that's been very hypocritical
and judgmental now these next expressions are getting a little bit
stronger showing that you are really asserting yourself and standing up to
these people that are being rude offensive or very judgmental be careful
with the number six because if used with the wrong intonation you might sound a
little bit childish but when used with a more authoritative voice or intonation
then it could just make them think twice well as they say it takes one to know
one well as they say it takes one to know
one so essentially you're flipping this back
onto the person whatever they might be saying that is rude or offensive you're
suggesting that they are exactly that way themselves but without using bad
offensive or rude language well they say it takes one to know one
number seven is pretty strong but again it's not
rude it's essentially standing your ground telling someone that you will not
tolerate the kind of comments that they are using and pointing out their lack of
knowledge on a particular subject so if only clotheslines came with closed
mouth if only closed minds came with closed
mouths essentially you're saying that their mind is closed they haven't got
enough information to make a comment on the subject or on the person if only
closed minds came with closed mouth number eight this again is about using
more sophisticated vocabulary more advanced vocabulary to show that you are
above what they are saying I'd be inclined to keep my comments to myself
if I were you I'd be inclined to keep my comments to myself if I were you for
those of you who have got good English grammar that is second conditional
you're essentially giving them some advice basically if I were you I would
keep that shut if I were you I'd be inclined to keep my comments to myself
number nine is pretty strong when you really have just had enough of this
person the rude comments they have been making use this if ignorant is bliss
then you must be the happiest person on the planet if ignorance is bliss then
you must be the happiest person on the planet now in English we have an
expression to say ignorance is bliss meaning the less informed you are
basically the stupider you are the happier you are because you don't know
the real problems that are going on in the world
we're taking this comment and we are essentially telling somebody they're
stupid and that's why they must be so happy and unaware of how stupid they are
if ignorant is bliss then you must be the happiest person on the planet
now of course nine times out of ten that people don't always realize what utter
crap they are talking but at least by standing up to them by having that
powerful language to defend yourself and others is going to really empower you
and put these people in a position to think about what they have said but
remember two wrongs do not make a right there is really no point insulting
another person using bad language and generally lower
yourself to their standard thank you so much for watching it make sure you
comment below tell me about a situation you may have been in when someone was
rude to you did you know what to say in response do you know what you would like
to say now use those mind comments below using the ones that you think are
perhaps most effective and appropriate just some of the situations you have
been in thank you so much for watching bye