to distract (someone)

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 491: Having a Temper Tantrum.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 491. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com. Go there to download a Learning Guide for this episode that contains all the information you need to improve your English even faster.

This episode is called “Having a Temper Tantrum.” When someone gets very angry, especially a young child, we often say they have a “temper tantrum.” This is a dialogue between Alberto and Melissa using a number of different words you might use to describe this unfortunate situation. Let’s get started.

Alberto: What was that ear-splitting scream?!

Melissa: That little girl over there is having a temper tantrum.

Alberto: Oh, great! The movie hasn’t even started and that kid is already acting up.

Melissa: I hope she’s okay. She looks miserable. Maybe her parents can distract her somehow.

Alberto: She’s fine. She’s just looking for attention or frustrated she didn’t get what she wanted.