26. Pleasure and displeasure
A. Pleasure
Pleasure is usually expressed in the form of an exclamation:
What a wonderful/ nice/ beautiful !
How exciting/ thrilling/ interesting
(Thats) marvelous!
(Thats) terrific!
(Thats) fantastic!
(Thats) good!
(Thats) great! more colloquial.
The most usual response to exclamations of pleasure about other peoples possessions, ideas, presents, etc, is agreement:
(Oh) yes, isnt it - rather enthusiastic
Yes, rather. less enthusiastic
Or disagreement:
Do you think so? - cold, formal or sarcastic
Is it (really)? rather mild
Remember, though, that while it is quite all right to be enthusiastic about other peoples achievements or qualities, you have to be more reserved about yourself. So in most cases all you can say without being boastful will be:
Yes, its not bad, is it?
Do you like it?
Im glad you like it.
B. Displeasure
Displeasure (annoyance and anger), as is nearly always the case with strong feelings, is usually expressed with exclamations:
Oh, no!
(Oh) really!
Mmm.
Oh dear!
Oh Heavens!
What a bore!
That IS a bore!
There/ there it is/ there you are!
Well, I like that!
(Oh), bother! rather mild
How annoying! semi-formal, informal
How very annoying! semi-formal, informal
Isnt that annoying/ infuriating/ maddening! more colloquial
Thats the limit/ the last straw colloquial
Mind what you are doing - colloquial, possibly rude
Rather rude:
Mind your own business!
Who do you think you are?
Who do you take me for?
Hell!/ Blast!/ Damn!
To hell with