Smells Like Teen Spirit

• By: Nirvana
• Album: Nevermind (30th Anniversary Edition)

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
guns /ɡʌnz/ A2	noun - a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are fired by explosive force
friends /frɛndz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
fun /fʌn/ A1	noun - enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure
lose /luːz/ A1	verb - be deprived of or cease to have (something)
pretend /prɪˈtɛnd/ B1	verb - behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not
bored /bɔːrd/ A2	adjective - feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity
assured /əˈʃʊərd/ B2	adjective - self-confident and relaxed
dirty /ˈdɜːrti/ A2	adjective - soiled or impure
word /wɜːrd/ A1	noun - a unit of language that has meaning and can be spoken or written
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
dangerous /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/ B1	adjective - able or likely to cause harm or injury
entertain /ˌentərˈteɪn/ B1	verb - provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment
stupid /ˈstuːpɪd/ B1	adjective - having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense
contagious /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ B2	adjective - spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact
libido /lɪˈbiːdəʊ/ C1	noun - sexual drive
gift /ɡɪft/ A2	noun - something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
blessed /blest/ B2	adjective - made holy; consecrated.
taste /teɪst/ A2	verb - perceive or experience the flavor of
smile /smaɪl/ A1	verb - form one's features into a smile
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought.
denial /dɪˈnaɪəl/ C1	noun - the action of denying something

Grammar:

• LOAD UP ON GUNS, BRING YOUR FRIENDS

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ Uses the base form of the verb to give commands or make requests. "Load" and "Bring" are both imperative verbs.

• IT'S FUN TO LOSE AND TO PRETEND

  ➔ It + be + adjective + to infinitive

  ➔ Uses the "it" as a dummy subject to introduce the real subject which is the "to infinitive" phrase. It emphasizes the adjective "fun".

• SHE'S OVER-BORED AND SELF-ASSURED

  ➔ Compound Adjectives

  ➔ "Over-bored" and "self-assured" are compound adjectives that describe the subject. They are formed by combining two or more words to modify a noun.

• WITH THE LIGHTS OUT, IT'S LESS DANGEROUS

  ➔ Conditional clause using 'with'

  ➔ Uses 'with + noun phrase' to introduce a condition. The sentence implies: *If* the lights are out, it's less dangerous.

• HERE WE ARE NOW, ENTERTAIN US

  ➔ Exclamatory sentence / Imperative

  ➔ "Here we are now" is an exclamatory phrase emphasizing their presence. "Entertain us" is a direct command using the imperative mood.

• I'M WORSE AT WHAT I DO BEST

  ➔ Superlative with a relative clause

  ➔ "What I do best" is a relative clause that functions as the noun. "Worse" is used implying that their best skill is done badly, which is paradoxical.

• AND FOR THIS GIFT I FEEL BLESSED

  ➔ Inversion (for emphasis)

  ➔ Normal word order would be "I feel blessed for this gift." By placing "for this gift" at the beginning, the speaker is emphasizing the reason for feeling blessed. The verb "feel" is still after the subject "I"

• OH WELL, WHATEVER, NEVER MIND

  ➔ Use of interjections and colloquialisms

  ➔ "Oh well", "whatever", and "never mind" are all interjections or colloquial phrases used to express resignation, indifference, or dismissal. This indicates a casual and almost apathetic tone.