“Make Me Unpleasant” vs. “Be Unpleasant for Me”: What’s the Difference?

Jun 6, 2023
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The difference between “make me unpleasant” and “be unpleasant for me”

  • The first phrase is more passive, whereas the second phrase is more active.
  • The first phrase suggests that unpleasantness is being imposed on you, whereas the second phrase suggests that you are seeking it out or allowing it.
  • The first phrase places the emphasis on external factors, whereas the second phrase places the emphasis on your own choices and actions.
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What is the definition of “make me unpleasant” and “be unpleasant for me”?

Make me unpleasant
  • This phrase implies that someone or something is causing you to feel or act unpleasantly.
  • It suggests a passive role on your part, in that you are not actively trying to be unpleasant but are being made to feel that way.
  • The emphasis is on the external force that is influencing your emotions or behaviour.
Be unpleasant for me
  • This phrase implies that you are actively seeking out unpleasant experiences or behaviour.
  • It suggests a willingness to engage in or tolerate unpleasantness for some reason.
  • The emphasis is on your own agency in seeking out or allowing unpleasantness.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Be unpleasant for me” is the more popular variant on the web.
Make me unpleasant
25,900 results on the web
Examples
  1. The thought of eating broccoli for dinner would make me unpleasant.
  2. That outfit makes me unpleasant because it's too small.
  3. Listening to that song makes me unpleasant because it brings back bad memories.
More popular
Be unpleasant for me
96,600 results on the web
Examples
  1. Can you pick up my dry cleaning? It would be unpleasant for me to go out in this rain.
  2. Do you mind taking the garbage out? The smell is becoming unpleasant for me.
  3. Waiting in this long line is going to be unpleasant for me because I don't have patience.
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