|
English
24
Grammar Tips
10th January 2004
Social Status
This week we covered a few expressions used in English to describe
social status. The key expressions we used were:
v
1. Toffee-nosed
v 2. A rough diamond
v 3. To keep up appearances
v 4. To put on or give yourself airs and graces
v 5. A pillar of society
v 6. Down and out
The
following are the definitions of the above expressions:
v a) A solid, responsible and respectable member of the community
v b) People who have no home, no money and no job, they are homeless
they live on the streets
v c) A person who acts like they belong to a higher social class
than they are
v d) People who continue to live at the same social standard
they have always lived at, even though the have economic problems
and can't afford to
v e) Someone who thinks he is of a higher social class and looks
down on people from a lower social class
v f) A person who seems impolite and from a crude educational
background at first impact, but who later reveal themselves as having
good character or a heart of gold.
Your
first task is to match the expression with its definition. The answers
are below: But no peaking until you have finished your task!!!!
Answers
1 - E
2 - F
3 - D
4 - C
5 - A
6 - B
----------------
Now put the correct expression into the following sentences:
E.g. Sasha has been down and out and begging on the streets of London,
since arriving in the Uk aged 15.
1. There's no point in looking down on everyone and trying to act
as if you are better than them. I've known you since you were six
years old, you can't fool me by ___________________.
2.
When I first met Den in the Queen Vic, I thought he was a bit of
a thug, but when I got to know him better, I realised that he had
a good heart. He's just a bit of a _________, that's all.
3.
Well I never! Did you see the way he talked down to that couple?
I've never seen such a _____________ shop assistant in my life!!
You'd think he had blue blood the way he carries on!
4.
The homeless situation in London is getting worse. The percentage
of people who are ______ and living on the streets in the UK has
risen dramatically over the last 3 years. But the situation in the
capital is at an all time high.
5.
Did you read the papers today? It's unbelievable, isn't it? I mean
who would have guessed? She always seemed such a _____________.
Who would have dreamed that she had embezzled £10 million
pounds from the company???
6.
Look, Joan, there's nothing wrong with you if you can't afford to
buy a new car or the latest fashions. It's nothing to be ashamed
of, especially in these difficult times. I think you're mad to be
buying these things you can't afford, just to __.
Answers
1. putting on airs and graces
2. rough diamond
3. toffee-nosed
4. down and out
5. pillar of society
6. to keep up appearances
|
