Mardy

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…

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!