Get somebodys goat

Neil Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, I’m Neil and joining me is Feifei… and Fred… my goat.

Feifei Hi everyone. Neil, why have you brought this… goat into the studio? It smells.

Neil
Fred doesn’t smell! I’ve brought my goat into the studio to teach our listeners an expression you can use when something annoys you.

Feifei
Well, having smelly animals in the studio annoys me.

Neil
Well, in that case, Feifei, you can say, ‘Smelly animals in the studio get my goat.’

Feifei
To get somebody’s goat - an expression you can use when something annoys you.

Neil That’s right. You can say something ‘gets your goat’ if it annoys you. You know what, Feifei? It gets my goat when people say my pet Fred is smelly.

Feifei
Ha! Here are some examples of people using the expression ‘get somebody’s goat’.

Examples These queues at the post office really get my goat. I’ve been waiting for half an hour!

Argh, I don’t believe it - I’ve got a parking ticket! Traffic wardens really get my goat!

These calls from people selling insurance get my goat. They’ve rung seven times already this morning.

Neil To get somebody’s goat - an expression you can use when something annoys you.

Feifei Notice that we often use ‘really’ with this expression. Train delays really get my goat.

Neil It seems to me quite a lot of things get your goat, Feifei.

Feifei Not really, Neil - apart from Fred.

Neil
Are you saying my goat gets your goat?

Feifei
Yes! Your goat really gets my goat!