Lesson 9: Anger
I’ve had it up to here with his messed-up priorities!

I can express anger.

INTRODUCE

It may not be ideal, but it’s very important to know how to express when you or someone else is angry.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

I. Go over the expressions with your tutor.

    1. If you say I’ve had it up to here with someone/something, it means that you can’t handle that person or thing any longer.

     

    I’ve had it up to here with all of his excuses! I already gave him enough chances to change.

     

     

    2. To blow up at someone means to suddenly burst into anger and yell at a person.

     

    Yesterday, I blew up at Chris for criticizing my work.

     

     

    3. When a person is livid, it means that he/she is extremely angry.

     

    I got livid when I saw her with another man.

     

    II. How would you express anger if someone did the following things to you? Use the expressions above.

    Your friend accused you of

    lying to him/her.

    A rude customer cut the line

    in front of you at a coffee

    shop.

    Your neighbor keeps on

    spreading false rumors

    about you.

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When one word ends in a consonant sound and the next word starts with an /h/, the /h/ is often dropped and the two words are connected.
Phrase Example

I’ve had

/ ahy-vad /

/ ahy-vad / it up to here with her!

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Saori is talking to Catherine.

Saori:

Ugh, I can’t believe him!

Catherine:

Can’t believe who? Naoki?

Saori:

Yes! He put his work before his family yet again. I’ve had it up to here with his messed-up priorities!

Catherine:

What? Tell me what happened.

Saori:

He emailed me yesterday to say that he’s going to be involved in a long-term project in Fukuoka, so he won’t be transferred back here to Tokyo for a long time. Even worse, he said that he might not be able to come visit us here as often either.

Catherine:

And he told you that in an email?

Saori:

Yeah! He didn’t even bother to call me! He must’ve known that I would get livid when I heard the news. Well, he’s right! The moment I read his email, I called him and blew up at him!

Catherine:

Saori, you should calm down. Aoi-chan might hear you.

Saori:

I know. But he really made my blood boil! Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you this: He also said we needed to wait a couple of years before trying to have a second baby.

Catherine:

You two should talk things over in person. This really isn’t something you should discuss over the phone. Why don’t you go and visit Naoki in Fukuoka?

Saori:

I don’t know… Right now, he’s lucky that I’m not in the same room as him…

TRIVIA

Do you know that there is a specific hand gesture for the phrase I’ve had it up to here? When people say it, they often place one of their hands under their chin to show where here, the level of their frustration, is.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Choose the follow-up sentences that best match the bold sentences.

1. I’ve had it up to here with all your unreasonable demands! __________!

  1. I can’t stand you anymore!
  2. I really enjoy hanging out with you!

2. I blew up at Taylor when I saw him with another girl. __________.

  • I was so happy that I hugged him.
  • I was so angry that I slapped him.

3. I got livid when I found out that my friends were keeping a secret from me. __________.

  • I was thankful for what they did.
  • I was so mad at them for going behind my back.

4. She blew up at me after I told her that I resigned from work. __________.

  • She didn’t agree with my decision to go back to school.
  • She understands what I did.

5. I’ve had it up to here with you always choosing your parents over me. __________.

  • You should visit your parents often.
  • You should spend more time with me.

STEP B EXERCISE

Rephrase the underlined sentences using the expressions in the box. Some expressions may be used more than once, and the form of some expressions may need to be changed.

I’ve had it up to here with someone/something
blow up at someone
livid

1. I didn’t know what happened. She just burst into anger and started shouting at me.

→ I didn’t know what happened. __________.

 

2. I can’t stand Jeff anymore. He’s so rude.

→ __________. He’s so rude.

 

3. Tim is extremely mad. He had a big fight with Sarah.

→ __________. He had a big fight with Sarah.

 

4. I really can’t handle her attitude anymore! Can you please put her on a different team?

→ __________! Can you please put her on a different team?

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your friend Louis sometimes says mean things about you to others. He just did it again, so you got into a fight with him. Express your anger to your best friend and tell him/her about your recent fight with Louis.

Today's Expressions

  • I’ve had it up to here with someone/something
  • blow up at someone
  • livid

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

ANGER
2

DEALING WITH ANGER
3

FIGHTING WITH SOMEONE
1

ANGER

  1. What things usually make you angry?
  2. How do you act when you’re angry (ex. frown, yell)?
  3. Do you stay angry for a long time, or do you calm down quickly?
  4. Do you think Japanese people are good at expressing their anger?

2DEALING WITH ANGER

  1. Can you control yourself when you’re angry?
  2. What do you think is the right way to deal with anger?
  3. What do you usually do when someone’s angry at you?
  4. Do you think there’s a difference between how adults and children deal with their anger?

3FIGHTING WITH SOMEONE

  1. When angry, would you rather fight with someone physically or verbally?
  2. Can fights ever be good?
  3. What are some common reasons why family members fight with each other?
  4. What are some common reasons why friends fight with each other?

FEEDBACK

I can express anger.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK