Business Spotlight SCHIMPFEN IM BERUF^9Expressing pain and frustration
“SUGAR” OR “BUGGER”?
Swearing is often an automatic
emotional reaction. Some people
try to replace swear words with
milder vocabulary. Instead of shit,
for instance, they might say sugar.
Said too often, however, it can
sound childish. Note that bugger
is a popular swear word in the UK
(etwa: Ach du Scheiße!) and that it is
regarded as a fairly mild expres-
sion. This sometimes surprises
Americans, as one meaning of the
verb bugger is “have anal sex”. That
doesn’t stop the British from using
the word to express pain, however.Showing sympathy● (^) That’s so annoying!
● (^) That’s unbelievable!
● (^) What a pain!
Common expressions
● (^) have a mini-meltdown
● (^) I don’t believe it.
● (^) It’s driving me crazy!
● (^) What a pain in the arse!
● (^) What a pain in the neck!
fuck
fucking
bugger (UK)
shit
drat
sugar
ouch
ow
Illustration: Bernhard Förth