estaban quejando
Imperfecto progresivo para el sujetoellos/ellas/ustedesdel verboquejarse.

quejarse

Todos se estaban quejando así que lo boicotearon.
They were all grumbling, and so they boycotted him.
Los trabajadores se estaban quejando porque les pagaban los salarios con billetes viejos, rotos e inservibles y porque desde 2013 no les habían abonado sus bonificaciones.
The workers were complaining that their salaries were being paid in old, ripped and unusable notes, and that they had not been paid their bonuses from 2013.
Los chicos se estaban quejando de que bebiste demasiado anoche. - Si ya saben cómo me pongo ¿para qué me invitan?
The guys were complaining that you drank too much last night. - They know how I get; why do they even invite me?
Se estaban quejando y resaltando los puntos malos sobre un amigo, y miré como lentamente esto les bajaba por los tonos negativos de la escala.
They were complaining and bringing up bad points about a friend, and I slowly watched as this lowered them on the negative tone scale.
Palabra del día
permitirse