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Welcome to our Daily English Listening Practice with this week’s series:
Appearance Vocabulary
This is the third piece of a 5-part series on vocabulary around your appearance. We hope you feel comfortable using this new vocabulary right away!
Please listen to the audio files for explanations.
Transcripts unavailable.
Notes from the Audio Files
To Be in Shape
- To stay in shape
- To and from
- Make an effort
How to use it:
“I used to be in great shape in my early twenties, but now I’m so busy I barely have any time to get in the gym.”
“I hate going to the gym, so if I want to stay in shape, I need to eat right and go out for walks or bike rides.”
To Be Well-built
- Straight up: clearly, obviously
- Cut out for something: meant for something, naturally gifted
- Muscular
- Primed for something: designed for something
How to use it:
“My friend’s always been well-built, even when we were at school. I think he plays rugby semi-professionally now.”
“She was born to play sports, I’ve never seen anyone so well-built.”
To Be Glowing
- Emitting: giving off light or energy
- Hormones: chemical reactions in the body
How to use it:
“She was absolutely glowing as she walked down the red carpet.”
“I dunno, something’s changed about her, she’s just got this glow, I can’t put my finger on it.”
Stocky
- Fat-shaming: Being rude or insulting of people’s bodies
- Words other than fat: stocky, big-boned, curvy,
- Well-defined / Sculpted / Chiseled: easily seen muscles
- Hammer Throw, Shot Put: Olympic Sports
- Stacked: muscular for men, can be demeaning for women
- Acceptable words for strong Women: Built, a Powerhouse
How to use it:
“He’s definitely not fat. He’s one of the strongest blokes I know. He’s stocky, definitely.”
“She’s an incredibly built woman, and she’s worked really hard to get that way.”
Slender/Slim
- Body shaming: Being rude or insulting when related to someone else’s body
- Slimmed down: lost weight
How to use it:
“It literally didn’t matter how much he ate, he’d always stay slim.”
“She still has a very slender frame, probably from years of being an athlete.”
Hey there. Interested in new topics, phrases, ideas for listening practice? Tell us in the comments below!
Thanks,
Mark and Kat
