School English vs Real Life English: Problems

When things go wrong, native speakers use natural, informal expressions instead of textbook phrases. In this video, you will learn six ways Americans talk about problems in real life. Instead of 'I made a mistake', say 'I messed up'. It is casual, honest and very common. Instead of 'I'm in trouble', say 'I'm in deep', a short version of 'I'm in deep trouble'. Instead of 'I don't understand', say 'I'm lost'. This works in class, at work or when someone explains something too fast. Instead of 'It's broken', say 'It's busted', an informal word for phones, cars and machines that do not work. Instead of 'That's annoying', native speakers often say 'That's so annoying', adding emphasis to show real frustration. Finally, instead of 'That's unfair', say 'That's messed up', which expresses strong disapproval of a situation. Notice that 'mess up' appears twice with different meanings, which shows how flexible this phrasal verb is. These expressions are informal, so use them with friends and family rather than in formal settings. Watch the video, repeat each pair, and try describing a recent problem using these natural phrases.