6-Minute English – Annoying office habits

• Oh yes, it’s fantastic, really modern and very spacious too.    [someone praises for sth] Yes, but come on, there must be something (about the place) that you find annoying?    [guide someone to bring up things of which is annoying]
• Well, yes. Like (….) I think, there’re (…..) I really hate that.
  Example: Well, yes. Like (every office), I think, there are (lots of unwashed coffee cups left on desks and rubbish lying around). I really hate that.
• Ah you see, not everything is perfect.
• (sth. / Sometimes things) can be a real irritation and that get(s) under our skin. 
• Well, no worry, you are not alone.  (吾洗擔心…不是得您感唸)
• That happens to me (all the time) as well
• pet hate(s) (irritate to others) ≈ pet peeve(s) (what things annoy you)
  pet hates – are small annoying habits that really irritate someone (others)
  Example: I find out various pet hates of office workers.
  pet peeves – are something that especially annoys you
  Example: Weak coffee is one of my pet peeves.
• (Come on,) We should have some sympathy!  (吾好感啦, 我地應該有D 同情心!)

Tapping of desk can be so annoying and that gets under our skin because it is so distracting – so to speak (=in other words) it breaks our concentration. We could wear headphones to block out the sound. But for the person doing the tapping, do they really recognize that this is one of the pet hates of them? How can they kick the habit – to stop doing it? We should have some sympathy!

The jargon can be pet peeve for us in the workplace because these are words and phrases used by managers that we don’t understand like a layman. For more pet peeves, I couldn’t possibly say, he might be listening. 

Anyway, one of the things that annoys me the most is people who smoke while we are chatting on the street, it’s really the biggest bugbear – another way of saying irritation. And so, I’d prefer have a water-cooler moment inside the pantry where might full of coffee smell instead of odor of burning cigarette or tobacco. I am not suppose to put up with the passive smoking – the second-hand smoke.

Lastly, could I offer you a little reminder – to air your grievances – to speak out about what annoy(s) you. Of course, in a polite way. You have the right to do so.