[Vocabulary] PHRASAL VERB P*SS OFF

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PENDSE

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Is it correct to say " I was pissed off with his behaviour." " Don't piss off." "He will piss off if you ask him any question." Does it carry the same meaning as fed up with or annoyed with or irritated with ?
 
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emsr2d2

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Is it correct to say " I was p*ssed off with his behaviour." " Don't p*ss off." "He will p*ss off if you ask him any question." Does it carry the same meaning as fed up with or annoyed with or irritated with ?

Firstly, please note that the first word of your phrase is considered mildly/medium offensive. One of the teachers here is particularly bothered by it and I seem to recall that hearing it makes her scrunch her face up in distaste! So please don't write it in full. Replace the vowel with an asterisk from now on please.

Your use of "p*ssed off" is correct. It means to be angry.
However, "to p*ss off" means two things. 1) To make someone else angry 2) to leave

I was p*ssed off with his behaviour. Correct.
Don't p*ss off - this doesn't make any sense. It effectively means "Don't leave" but we wouldn't use it in this way.
Don't p*ss me off - Don't make me angry.
He will p*ss off if you him any questions - He will leave if you ask him anything. That is an unnatural statement.
He will get p*ssed off if you ask him any questions - He will become angry if you ask him anything.
 

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It might also be worth noting that the following slang use of 'p*ssed off' in the past tense is also common:

'He pissed off half an hour ago' - He left 30 minutes ago.
 

emsr2d2

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All versions of it are usable in the past tense.

He p*ssed off half an hour ago = He left 30 minutes ago.
He p*ssed me off half an hour ago = He made me angry 30 minutes ago.

He p*ssed off early. That really p*ssed me off.
 

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It might also be worth noting that the following slang use of 'p*ssed off' in the past tense is also common:

'He pissed off half an hour ago' - He left 30 minutes ago.

It can be used in other forms, though:

He always p*sses off early.
He'd p*ssed off before we got there.
She'll p*ss off before the end.
Etc
 

5jj

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I suppose if we are going to continue with possible ways in which this expression can be used, we could, if we are on a pier with no public conveniences p*** off the end of the pier.
 

emsr2d2

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I suppose if we are going to continue with possible ways in which this expression can be used, we could, if we are on a pier with no public conveniences p*** off the end of the pier.

You could though it wouldn't be a phrasal verb there, just the verb "to p*ss" meaning "to urinate" and then where you did it. I say "you" because I, as a female lady of the fairer sex (!), would be hard pressed to achieve such a feat!
 

5jj

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I say "you" because I, as a female lady of the fairer sex (!), would be hard pressed to achieve such a feat!
:)

(That's a smug male smile)
 

emsr2d2

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Tdol

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To be able to get arrested on a pier? :crazyeye:
 

emsr2d2

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To be able to get arrested on a pier? :crazyeye:

Well, that wasn't high up my list but yes, I suppose! In a roundabout way! :-?
 

5jj

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Well, that wasn't high up my list but yes, I suppose! In a roundabout way! :-?
I try not to p*** off a pier in a roundabout way. People who do that tend to get their own back.

Perhaps it is time for a saner person than I to close this thread.:roll:
 

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Let the record reflect that I do not scrunch my whole face, just my nose, but only when it's used as a slang word for urinate. Inconsistent, but there you go.


I actually have no trouble with "I was p*ssed off" = I was angry or "That really p*sses me off" = That really makes me angry. (I don't use it around my mother, but even at work, that's okay. But "I need to go take a p*ss" is not okay.)

Americans don't (in my experience) use this phrase to mean "to leave" with the exception of "Oh, p*ss off!" meaning "Oh, go away."

I have never heard an American say "He p*ssed off about an hour ago" or "If you say that to him, he'll p*ss off."
 
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