Offensive Behavior: English Vocabulary List

to regret or feel bad about what one has said earlier

"He had to eat dirt."

"The arrogant businessman was forced to eat dirt when his flawed business plan failed spectacularly."

to consider a person or thing unimportant and undeserving of respect

"She looks down at me."

"He looks down on people who are poor."

(of jokes or remarks) close to the limits of what people can tolerate or find acceptable, particularly if it is offensive or sexually suggestive

"His joke was a bit near the knuckle."

"The comedian joke was near the knuckle and some people in the audience were offended."

to speak in a manner that is rude or sexually offensive

"He aired his lungs loudly."

"During the heated argument, he began to air his lungs with a barrage of vulgar and inappropriate comments."

to talk to a person in a way that is rude and shows no respect for them

"Do not give me any lip, young lady."

"The rude child gave his mother some lip and was sent to his room without dinner."

resonating deeply with someone's personal experiences, feelings, or beliefs

"Her comments about laziness hit close to home."

"The movie about family problems was close to home for me because I had a similar experience."

to express contempt or disrespect to a person by showing one's naked backside to them

"He will hang a BA."

"During the protest, one angry student decided to hang a BA at the dean, which got him suspended from the university immediately."

to raise one's middle finger and point it toward a person to show one is angry with them, hates, or disrespects them

"He gave her the finger yesterday."

"After the driver cut him off in traffic, he angrily flipped the other driver the finger and sped away down the highway."

to have an attitude that is inappropriate, rude, or too bold

"You have some nerve talking to me like that."

"That man has some nerve asking for a raise after arriving late to work every single day."

to talk about someone without giving them any respect

"Don't take God's name in vain."

"He always takes his father's name in vain when he is angry."

(of a joke, story, remark, etc.) dealing with sensitive or controversial topics that can be uncomfortable or unsettling to hear

"His criticism was a bit close to the bone."

"The documentary about poverty was close to the bone and made many viewers cry."

a very private or offensive subject that should not be discussed

"Politics is a no-go area."

"For the sake of family harmony, discussions about Uncle John's controversial past were strictly considered a no-go area."

to intentionally and rudely display an offensive hand gesture, involving raising the middle finger while extending the others downward, as a sign of strong disapproval, annoyance, or disrespect toward someone

"He gave the driver the bird."

"The frustrated motorist gave the slow driver the bird after being cut off unexpectedly."

to receive insults or bad treatment, especially without ever complaining

"He ate dirt."

"Despite the constant criticism and unfair treatment from his boss, the loyal employee chose to eat dirt rather than complain."

to laugh or shout insults at someone

"They gave him the bird."

"The disgruntled crowd began to jeer and give him the bird when he failed to address their legitimate concerns."