Key takeaways
- Alex and Sarah talk about small things that really annoy them: lateness, chewing loudly, and loud phone calls in public.
- Pet peeve = a small thing that annoys you a lot. It drives me crazy = it makes me very annoyed. I can’t stand… = I really don’t like…
- The vocabulary part includes short movie clips, so you hear the phrases in many different voices.
- A fun topic for small talk and a great way to practise giving opinions.
Quick question: what’s one tiny thing that makes you crazy? People who walk slowly in front of you? Someone eating crisps loudly in the cinema? A friend who is always ten minutes late?
Everyone has these little annoyances, and talking about them is surprisingly good for your English. It’s a light, friendly topic, people love to share their own, and it naturally makes you use opinion phrases. In English there is a special word for these small annoyances, and in this lesson you’ll learn it, along with two very common expressions that go with it.
Watch the Lesson
Lesson map: listening (01:09), vocabulary (03:00), listen and repeat (04:59), listen and answer (09:20), shadowing (13:46), and a second listening and shadowing round at 16:00.
The Conversation: My Pet Peeve
- Alex: I have a question for you, Sarah. What is one small thing that really makes you angry?
- Sarah: That’s easy. For me, my pet peeve is when people are always late. It drives me crazy.
- Alex: I understand. I hate waiting for people.
- Sarah: What about you? What is your pet peeve?
- Alex: Mine is when people chew their food with their mouth open. The sound is terrible.
- Sarah: Oh, that is a good one. I also can’t stand it when people talk very loudly on their phones in public.
- Alex: Yes, that is so annoying. It seems we both dislike impolite people.
- Sarah: True. Let’s try not to be like them.
The Three Key Expressions
Pet peeve
Something small that annoys you or makes you angry, usually more than it should. What is your biggest pet peeve? My pet peeve is noisy people. It’s a noun, so you can have one pet peeve or many pet peeves. British speakers sometimes say pet hate with the same meaning.
It drives me crazy
It makes me very angry or annoyed. It drives me crazy when my phone is slow. Bad traffic drives me crazy. You can change the person: It drives him crazy. You’re driving me crazy! In the video you’ll hear several film clips with this phrase. Listen to how the emotion changes the sound.
I can’t stand
I really don’t like something or someone. I can’t stand waiting in long lines. I can’t stand rude people. After “can’t stand” use a noun or a verb with -ing: I can’t stand waiting, not “I can’t stand wait.” You can also use “it when”: I can’t stand it when people talk loudly.
Your turn: what is your pet peeve? Write it in the comments using “My pet peeve is when…”. For example: My pet peeve is when people don’t clean up after themselves in the office kitchen. Your sentence might help another learner too.
How Strong Is Each Phrase?
English has many ways to say you don’t like something, and they are not all equally strong. Here’s a simple scale, from mild to strong:
- It’s a bit annoying. (mild)
- It really annoys me.
- I hate it when…
- I can’t stand it when…
- It drives me crazy. (strong, but often said with a smile)
Interesting detail: people often use the strongest phrases for the smallest problems. “It drives me crazy when people leave one sip of milk in the carton!” That’s part of the fun of pet peeves. The tone is usually playful, not really angry.
Use It in Small Talk
“What’s your pet peeve?” is a great conversation starter with classmates, colleagues or new friends. Follow Sarah and Alex’s pattern:
- Ask: What’s one small thing that really annoys you?
- Answer: My pet peeve is when… It drives me crazy.
- Agree or react: Oh, that’s a good one! / Tell me about it.
- Ask back: What about you?
“Tell me about it” in step 3 means “I know, I feel the same.” We explain it, with nine other everyday phrases, in 10 real English phrases native speakers use every day.
Practise With the Video
In the listen-and-answer part you’ll hear questions such as “What is Sarah’s pet peeve?” and “Is Alex’s pet peeve when people drink water?” Answer out loud each time, then compare with the model answer. Because this video has two listening and shadowing rounds, it’s a good one to use when you have a little more time.
Pet peeves are often about stress, too. If you liked this topic, you’ll enjoy “Too much on my plate”: how to say you’re overwhelmed in English.
For daily practice with 60 more real conversations, take a look at the Shadowing English Speaking Course (MP3 + PDF). Not sure yet? Try a free sample lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “pet peeve” mean?
A pet peeve is a small thing that annoys you a lot, like people being late or chewing loudly. It is common in everyday, informal conversation.
Is “pet peeve” American or British?
It is mostly American English, but it is understood everywhere. In British English, people also say “pet hate”.
Is it “I can’t stand wait” or “I can’t stand waiting”?
“I can’t stand waiting.” After “can’t stand”, use a noun or a verb with -ing.
Is “it drives me crazy” rude?
No. It is informal and very common. People often say it in a joking way about small problems.
