People Who Are Seriously Irritated Usually Say 6 Phrases In Casual Conversation
MAYA LAB | Shutterstock Whatever the reason might be, all of us get irritated. Some people ramp it up a notch, however. Their irritation goes from mild to serious quickly, and they will use specific language in conversation that is a warning sign to give them a little space.
It happens to the best of us. We’re having a bad day, and one person says something slightly off. It throws us over the edge. Or we’re looking forward to going home and being alone for a few hours, only for your boss to call and say you need to go back to work. The difference lies in the degree of irritation. People who are irritated might be able to hide it. People who are seriously irritated will let you know even if they don't mean to.
Phrases seriously irritated people use in conversation to let you know it's time to back off:
1. 'Whatever'
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Some people are more easily irritated than others. According to Kaytee Gillis, LCSW, some factors for this may include traumatic experiences or uncontrolled stress. “Chronic stress can lower one’s tolerance for frustration, making them more irritable,” Gillis explained.
When people are irritated, they will try to dismiss what the other person is saying, using phrases such as “whatever.” They don’t really care about how it is going to be received. They just want to be out of the situation and conversation.
2. 'Never mind'
Dismissive behavior, like brushing someone off with a comment like "never mind," is a clear sign that someone has gone from mild to serious irritation. They do not want to continue the conversation as it's going. It's like if your friend asks you to do something, but you weren't exactly paying attention. You might say, “What was that?” If your friend is super irritated, they might respond with something like “Never mind,” instead of just repeating what they originally said.
When it comes to seriously irritated people, you can't take it personally. Normally, it is not a reflection of your personal behavior but rather a reflection of their internal monologue.
3. 'If you say so'
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Ugh, this phrase annoys me just writing it. It’s another dismissive phrase that irritated people just love to throw out when they stop caring about anything but ending their immediate discomfort. Instead of just giving their advice or doing what someone has asked of them, they reply, “If you say so.” If they do it in a sing-song manner, it's even worse!
Aimee Daramus, PhD, explained that being dismissed can leave you feeling “unwanted and unimportant, like you don’t matter.” That is more than likely their intent because making the person irritating them feel small will get them out of the conversation immediately.
If somebody is constantly irritated, however, it might be a sign of an underlying mental health condition, as Gillis noted. It’s important to set boundaries to protect yourself against this, but it's equally important to check in with whoever is using these phrases because chances are, way more is going on.
4. 'Right, my bad'
Sarcasm is hilarious, except when it’s used against you. Irritated people love sarcasm because it’s an easy way to pretend that you care when what you really want to do is wound the other person, even if it's just temporarily.
Instead of just communicating that you have had a bad day or don’t feel like talking, super-irritated people take it out on those around them. As a result, if their partner makes even a slight comment about something they are doing, they’ll hit them with the “Right, my bad,” and probably an eye roll to accompany it.
5. 'For crying out loud'
Chronically irritated people tend to believe that the world is against them. This also may be due to unresolved trauma or being raised in an environment where they feel like they don’t belong.
Therefore, they are always in survival mode. They treat any minor inconvenience like it’s the end of the world. This also may be due to a lack of emotional resilience. As a result, they will probably hit you with “for crying out loud” when something isn’t even really a big deal.
6. 'Can we just move on?'
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When irritability reaches an extreme, exasperation sets in. That's not necessarily a bad thing unless anger bubbles to the surface.
A healthy relationship should allow room for both partners to voice their concerns. However, if one partner tries to dismiss a concern with “Can we just move on?” It shows that they are not emotionally capable of talking about it. It is also a sign that they are invalidating your concerns, which, if it happens frequently, is how resentment starts to build.
Sophie Bagheri is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and theatre who covers lifestyle topics.
