The IT Crowd | Awkward Moments

Have you ever been around someone who was moody, irritable, or just not themselves, and had no idea why? In this lesson, we look at a brilliantly awkward scene from The IT Crowd where Jen tries to warn her clueless colleagues that Aunt Irma is visiting, and things go predictably sideways.

The scene is packed with euphemisms, idioms, and the kind of real English that never gets taught in the classroom. By the end of this lesson, you will know exactly what people mean when they dance around sensitive subjects with humor and slang.

1) “High-End Screeching”

■ This phrase describes a loud, high-pitched noise, often something unpleasant like a scream or squeal. “High-end” refers to the upper range of sound, not luxury products, and “screeching” is a sharp, piercing noise.

✔ Used to describe sounds that are uncomfortable to hear: feedback from a microphone, a badly played instrument, or someone screaming at the top of their voice.

► “The microphone made a horrible high-end screeching noise the moment she tapped it.”

► “She let out a high-end screech when she saw the spider sitting on her desk.”

2) “I’d Better…”

■ “I’d better” is short for “I had better” and is used to suggest that doing something is a good idea or necessary, often because of urgency, responsibility, or common sense.

✔ This construction is very common and natural in everyday English. It sounds softer and more polite than “I must” or “I need to.”

► “I’d better set an alarm, or I’ll sleep through my meeting.”

► “You’d better wear a jacket. It’s cold outside.”

3) “Like Someone’s Killing a Cat”

■ This is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as.” This one is used to describe a very unpleasant sound, usually high-pitched or screechy. It is not meant literally.

✔ Use this expression in informal and humorous situations. It is an exaggeration for comic effect.

► “Her singing was so bad it sounded like someone was killing a cat.”

► “When he played the trumpet, it was like someone was killing a cat in slow motion.”

4) Menstruation Euphemisms

■ A euphemism is a polite, indirect, or humorous way of saying something that might otherwise feel too blunt, embarrassing, or taboo. All of the phrases below are creative ways to talk about menstruation without saying “period” directly.

✔ Euphemisms are used all the time in English, especially around topics like death, illness, sex, and bodily functions. Learning them helps you understand what people are really saying when they seem to be talking about something else entirely.

“Aunt Irma is visiting”
A fictional aunt who shows up every month. This is a light-hearted code for having your period, and it is the one Jen uses in the scene.
► “I’m feeling terrible today. Aunt Irma is in town.”

“It’s that time of the month”
A very common and relatively polite way to say someone is menstruating. Widely understood across most English-speaking countries.
► “She’s feeling a bit grumpy. It’s that time of the month.”

“High tide”
This refers to the natural rise of the sea. It hints at cycles and flow without being too direct.
► “She’s in a bit of a mood. Must be high tide.”

“Closed for maintenance”
Used playfully to describe the body being temporarily out of service. Often said with a deadpan face for maximum comedy.
► “No swimming for me this week. Closed for maintenance.”

“Fallen to the communists”
A brilliantly absurd phrase that references “the Red Peril,” a Cold War-era fear of communism. The colour red is also a visual pun for menstruation.
► “I’ve fallen to the communists. Hand me the chocolate.”

“On the rag”
Crude slang referring to using menstrual products like pads or cloths. Not polite and can come across as disrespectful depending on tone. Worth knowing so you recognise it, but not necessarily worth using.
► “Don’t mess with her today. She’s on the rag.”

“Code red”
A dramatic euphemism that sounds like a military emergency but is a funny way to refer to menstruation. The “red” refers to blood.
► “We’ve got a code red over here. Pass the chocolate immediately.”

“Shark week”
This joke term refers to the idea that there is “blood in the water.” Used for humour, especially in internet slang and memes.
► “It’s shark week. I need snacks and a heating pad.”

“Riding the crimson wave”
A surf-inspired phrase that uses “crimson” for blood and “wave” to suggest the cycle. Playful and a little dramatic.
► “Sorry I’m cranky today. I’m riding the crimson wave.”

“The first scene in Carrie”
A reference to the 1976 Stephen King horror film, where the opening scene shows a teenage girl having her first period in a school shower. A dark but very recognisable cultural reference to period-related embarrassment.
► “It was like the first scene in Carrie in there. Nobody warned her.”

5) “Oblivious”

■ If someone is oblivious, they are completely unaware of what is happening around them, even when it is obvious to everyone else.

✔ Moss in the scene is the perfect example. He has no idea what Aunt Irma means, why Jen is upset, or why Roy is desperately trying to signal him to stop talking.

► “He was oblivious to the danger and kept walking straight toward it.”

► “She’s totally oblivious to how rude she sounds when she says that.”

6) “Get on Someone’s Nerves”

■ The idiom “get on someone’s nerves” means to annoy or irritate someone, especially when it happens repeatedly over time.

✔ This expression dates back to the late 1800s, when people began to understand the nervous system. The idea was that something annoying was agitating your body and making you feel tense. It is extremely common in everyday conversation and works with friends, family, or coworkers.

► “That clicking sound is really getting on my nerves.”

► “He knows exactly how to get on her nerves without even trying.”

7) “Mangina”

■ A mashup of “man” and “vagina.” In the Superbad clip, Jonah Hill’s character ends up with a blood stain on his trousers after dancing with a girl who is on her period. He is mocked with this word as a joke that he is the one menstruating.

✔ This is crude American slang. Worth knowing so you understand the reference, not something to use in polite company.

► “The guys wouldn’t let him forget it. They called him that name for the rest of the week.”

Quiz Time

1. True or False
True or False: “Aunt Irma is visiting” is a polite way to say someone is having their period.
✅ True. “Aunt Irma” is a humorous euphemism for menstruation. It is one of many creative ways people talk about periods without saying it directly.

2. Slang Check
What does the phrase “get on my nerves” mean?
A. To touch someone’s arm
B. To make someone feel relaxed
C. To annoy or irritate someone
D. To make someone excited
✅ Answer: C. It is often used when someone feels overwhelmed or frustrated by repeated behaviour.

3. Multiple Choice
Which of these is NOT a euphemism for having your period?
A. Aunt Irma is visiting
B. I’ve fallen to the communists
C. It’s high tide
D. I’ve gone bananas
✅ Answer: D. The others are all humorous ways to refer to menstruation. “Gone bananas” means acting silly or wild.

4. What Is the Speaker Describing?
“Like someone’s killing a cat in here.”
A. A loud cat fight outside
B. An annoying or painful sound
C. A horror movie
D. A pet emergency
✅ Answer: B. This is a simile, a humorous exaggeration used to describe a terrible or screechy noise.

5. Three Truths and a Lie
Which of these statements is false?
1. Roy thinks the poster of the monkey is scary.
2. Jen says she is “closed for maintenance” as a euphemism.
3. Moss instantly understands what Aunt Irma means.
4. Jen warns them that she might be hard to deal with.
✅ Answer: 3. Moss does not understand at all. He takes it very literally and is completely confused, which is the whole joke.

6. Match the Vocabulary
Match each word or phrase with its meaning:
Screeching — A high-pitched or unpleasant sound
Euphemism — A polite or indirect way to say something uncomfortable
Get on my nerves — To annoy or irritate someone

7. Final Challenge
Complete the sentence in the comments below:
👉 “I did not want to say I was on my period, so I told them ______________________.”
(Hint: Use or invent a euphemism like “Aunt Irma is visiting” or “I’ve fallen to the communists.”)