How to Say How You Really Feel — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

Introduction

A: Today we’re learning how to say what you really feel in English — so “I’m fine” isn’t your only answer.

B: Twelve phrases, from very happy to very annoyed. Listen for these six: I’m over the moon, I can’t wait, I’m a bit down, What’s wrong?, I’m fed up with, and What a relief!

A: We’ll go through them in four groups, then put all twelve into one long Friday, and finish with a short practice where you answer out loud.

B: You can practice today’s phrases in Recursio — link in the description.

A: Let’s start with the easy part. The good news.

Good news

B: First group — for when life is going well. So, a question for you. When something great happens, what do you usually say?

A: Honestly? “I’m happy.” Or “I’m very happy.”

B: That’s fine, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But “happy” is a small word for a big feeling. When you get the job, or your best friend is getting married, English has something bigger.

A: Bigger than “very happy”?

B: Much bigger. Number one: I’m over the moon. It means you’re extremely happy about some good news.

A: “I’m over the moon.” Is it old-fashioned?

B: Not at all. You’ll hear it in both British and American English. “We’re having a baby — we’re over the moon!” Or: “I passed my driver’s test. I’m over the moon.”

A: Can I use it for small things? Like, my coffee is really good today?

B: You can, but then it sounds like a joke. It’s for real, big news. For good coffee, “this is great” is enough.

A: Okay. Number two.

B: Number two is about the future. Something good is coming, and you’re excited. You say: I can’t wait!

A: I know this one. “I can’t wait for the weekend.”

B: Perfect. The idea is: waiting is hard, because you want it now. Notice the two forms. “Can’t wait for” plus a thing, and “can’t wait to” plus a verb.

A: For plus a thing, to plus a verb. “I can’t wait for the concert. I can’t wait to hear them live.”

B: Exactly. And on its own, with a lot of energy: “Our vacation starts tomorrow!” “I can’t wait!”

A: Does it ever mean I really can’t wait? Like, I have to leave?

B: It can, in a different tone. “Sorry, I can’t wait any longer — my bus is here.” But when your voice is excited, it’s about something good.

A: Number three.

B: Number three isn’t about one big moment. It’s about the whole day: to be in a good mood.

A: Mood — how you feel in general, for a few hours.

B: Right. “You’re in a good mood today! What happened?” Maybe nothing happened. You slept well, the sun is out, the coffee is good.

A: And the opposite is “a bad mood.”

B: Yes. “Don’t talk to him before lunch. He’s in a bad mood.” One small detail: we say “in a good mood,” with “in.” Not “at a good mood,” and not “on a good mood.”

A: In a good mood. And what about “I’m not in the mood”?

B: That one means something a little different. “I’m not in the mood for pizza” means I don’t want pizza right now. “Not in the mood for” plus a thing or an activity.

A: So yesterday I was over the moon, today I’m just in a good mood, and I can’t wait for Friday.

B: Three phrases in one sentence. That’s exactly the idea.

When you feel low

A: Now the other side. Not every day is a good-mood day.

B: No, and this group is really useful, because a lot of learners have only one answer: “I’m fine.” Even when they’re not fine.

A: That’s me. So what should I say?

B: Number four: I’m a bit down. “Down” means sad, low, without energy. And “a bit” makes it softer.

A: So it’s not “I’m very sad.”

B: It sounds gentler than “I’m very sad.” Maybe you’ve had a long week, or maybe you don’t know why you feel low. “I’m a bit down today” says enough without a long explanation.

A: I like that. It tells the truth without a long story.

B: Exactly. You can also say “I’m feeling a bit down” — it sounds a little softer. And about a friend: “She’s been a bit down lately.”

A: Okay, now I’m the friend. Somebody looks sad. What do I ask?

B: Number five is the question: What’s wrong? Two words, very common, and it shows you care.

A: “What’s wrong?” Isn’t that a bit direct?

B: With the right tone, it’s kind. A soft voice, maybe you sit down next to them. “Hey, what’s wrong?” If you want it even softer: “Is everything okay?”

A: And if I ask, “What’s wrong with you?”

B: Careful. “What’s wrong with you?” often means “Why are you acting so strangely?” It can sound rude. Keep it short: “What’s wrong?”

A: That’s a big difference for two small words.

B: It is. Another good option is “What’s the matter?” Same meaning, same kind tone.

A: And after they tell me, I want to help. I want them to feel better.

B: That’s number six: to cheer someone up. To make a sad person feel happier.

A: How do I use it in a sentence?

B: “I bought her flowers to cheer her up.” “Let’s watch a funny movie. It’ll cheer you up.” With a word like “her” or “you,” put it in the middle: “cheer her up,” not “cheer up her.” You can also say: “Cheer up! Things will get better.”

A: Is “Cheer up!” always nice?

B: It depends on the moment. “Cheer up!” on its own can sound like “Stop being sad.” An offer to spend time together may feel kinder — a coffee, a walk, a silly video.

A: Let’s try it. I’ll be the one who’s down.

B: Okay. Hey, you’re very quiet today. What’s wrong?

A: Nothing, really. I’m just a bit down. Work was long, and it’s raining again.

B: Oh no. Come on, I’ll buy you a hot chocolate. Maybe that will cheer you up.

A: That might work. Okay — it’s already working.

B: See? Three phrases, one rainy afternoon.

A: Quick tip before the next group. You can save these phrases in Recursio and review them later.

Stress and relief

B: Group three is about pressure. Deadlines, exams, moving day, a phone that won’t stop ringing.

A: My whole life, basically.

B: Then number seven is for you: to be stressed out. It means you’re worried and tense — often because there’s too much to do.

A: What’s the difference between “stressed” and “stressed out”?

B: Very small. “Stressed out” is a bit more informal, and it’s very common in conversation. “I’m so stressed out about this exam.” “She’s stressed out at work.”

A: “About” plus the reason.

B: “About” plus the reason. “I’m stressed out about money.” “I’m stressed out about the move.” And the thing that causes it is “stressful”: “Moving is stressful.”

A: Stressed is how I feel. Stressful is the thing.

B: Exactly — the same pattern as “bored” and “boring.” We have a whole guide on -ed and -ing adjectives, and it’s linked below.

A: So I’m stressed out. My heart is beating fast. What’s the phrase for getting back to normal?

B: Number eight: to calm down. To become quiet and relaxed again after you were upset, angry, or stressed.

A: “I need to calm down.” “Take a deep breath and calm down.”

B: Good. Now a warning, like the one with “Cheer up!” When someone is angry and you say “Calm down!” — it often makes them angrier.

A: Why?

B: Because it can sound like “Your feelings are too much.” Softer ways are: “Let’s take a minute,” or “It’s okay, we’ll figure it out.” Use “calm down” about yourself, or when you tell a story: “I took a walk to calm down.”

A: And when the stress is over? The exam is finished, and you passed.

B: Then you say number nine: What a relief! Relief is the good feeling when a worry goes away.

A: So it isn’t exactly about being happy.

B: Right — it’s about the worry leaving. “You passed your exam.” “Oh, what a relief!” Or: “I found my keys! What a relief!” You can also say “That’s a relief.” It’s a bit calmer.

A: “What a relief” — for when you can breathe again.

B: That’s a perfect description. So: you’re stressed out, you take a walk to calm down, then the good news comes. What a relief!

When things annoy you

A: Last group, and I think it’s my favorite. Annoying things.

B: Everyone’s favorite, because every day has a few. Number ten: It gets on my nerves. It means something annoys you a lot. It can be a habit, a sound, or something happening right now.

A: Like my neighbor’s dog at six in the morning.

B: Perfect example. “My neighbor’s dog barks every morning. It really gets on my nerves.” It’s often about a habit or a sound.

A: Can a person get on my nerves?

B: Yes: “He gets on my nerves.” But it’s quite strong about a person, so maybe don’t say it when he’s in the room.

A: Good to know. Number eleven.

B: Number eleven is for when you’ve had enough: I’m fed up with… You’re tired of something, and you don’t want to deal with it anymore.

A: “I’m fed up with the rain.”

B: Yes. “I’m fed up with this old laptop.” “I’m fed up with waiting.” Notice: “fed up with” plus a noun, or plus a verb with -ing.

A: Fed up with waiting. Fed up with cooking every night.

B: Exactly. And it’s stronger than “It gets on my nerves.” When something gets on your nerves, you’re annoyed. When you’re fed up, you feel you’ve had enough.

A: So first the laptop gets on my nerves, and after a month I’m fed up with it.

B: And then you decide what to do about it.

A: And number twelve?

B: Number twelve is a reaction: That’s so frustrating. You use it when a situation is annoying because things aren’t going the way you hoped.

A: Like when a website says “error” after I fill out the whole form.

B: Exactly. “I filled out the whole form, and then the page crashed.” “Oh, that’s so frustrating.” “Frustrating” is the situation. “Frustrated” is how you feel: “I’m so frustrated.”

A: The -ed and -ing pair again.

B: Again. And it’s a great phrase to say to other people, too. When a friend tells you about a problem, “That’s so frustrating” shows you understand.

A: So it’s not only for complaining. It’s also for listening.

B: Right. Sometimes a friend doesn’t need advice. They just need somebody to say, “Ugh, that’s so frustrating.”

One long Friday

A: Let’s put all twelve together. One Friday, from morning to night.

B: I’ll be your friend. You call me in the evening.

A: Okay. Hi, it’s me. Do you have a minute?

B: Sure. You sound tired. What’s wrong?

A: Oh, it’s been a long day. This morning I was so stressed out about my presentation.

B: The big one for the new client?

A: That one. And my laptop froze twice before the meeting. I’m fed up with that laptop.

B: That’s so frustrating! What did you do?

A: I went outside for five minutes to calm down. Then I borrowed my coworker’s laptop.

B: Smart. And the presentation?

A: It went well. The client said yes.

B: What a relief!

A: Totally. After that I was in a good mood — until the train home.

B: Uh-oh. What happened on the train?

A: The man next to me ate chips loudly for forty minutes. It gets on my nerves when people chew like that.

B: I know that feeling. But you still sound a bit down. Is it just the train?

A: A little. I’m a bit down, but I think I’m mostly tired.

B: Then let me cheer you up. Pizza at my place tomorrow?

A: Yes, please. And I got a message from my sister this afternoon. She gets back from Japan on Sunday. I can’t wait to see her.

B: That’s great!

A: And there’s more. She’s getting married!

B: What? That’s amazing! You must be over the moon! Tell her I said congratulations.

A: I will. I’m over the moon for her. And I feel a lot better now.

B: That sounds like a good way to end a long Friday.

A: And that’s where the call ends. Did you catch all twelve phrases?

B: Let’s practice them now.

Practice

A: Here’s how it works. You’ll hear a situation. Answer out loud in the pause, then listen to our answer. First one: you just got the job you’ve wanted for two years. How would you tell a friend how you feel and that you’re excited to start on Monday?

B: I’m over the moon! I can’t wait to start on Monday.

A: “Over the moon” fits big news, and “can’t wait to” comes before a verb.

B: Next one. Your friend is very quiet today, and she doesn’t look happy. What could you ask her?

A: What’s wrong?

B: Ask it gently. “What’s wrong with you?” can sound rude.

A: Your friend says, “I’m just a bit down today.” You want to watch a funny movie together. What could you say?

B: Let’s watch a funny movie. It’ll cheer you up.

A: You’re offering to spend time together, not just telling her to cheer up.

B: You have three exams next week, and you can’t sleep. How would you tell a friend how you feel and what you need to do?

A: I’m so stressed out about my exams. I need to calm down.

B: “About” introduces the reason, and “calm down” is about yourself here.

A: Your neighbor plays loud music every night. After three months, you’ve had enough. What two sentences could you say about it?

B: It gets on my nerves. I’m fed up with the noise.

A: The second sentence says you’ve had enough.

B: Last one. Your friend says, “I waited an hour, and then they canceled my train.” Later he says, “Good news — they found my lost bag.” What could you say each time?

A: That’s so frustrating. What a relief!

B: One reaction is for annoyance; the other is for a worry that’s gone.

Outro

A: Today you practiced twelve ways to talk about feelings, from “I’m over the moon” to “That’s so frustrating.”

B: Tomorrow we’ll look at the mistakes people often make when they talk about feelings — and how to fix them.

A: Until then, open the link below and practice today’s phrases in Recursio.

B: See you in the next one.