M
illionth English word imminentSummary
10 June 2009
It is being claimed that the millionth word in the English language is about to be created. A US company which follows the use of language on the internet has made the prediction. However traditional dictionary makers aren't so sure.... .
Reporter:
Lawrence Pollard
Dictionary experts are doubtful
Listen
Click to hear the report
Report
The idea of the millionth word entering the English language is a brilliant bit of public relations for Texas-based Global Language Monitor. GLM runs a powerful search service which monitors web traffic. They make their money telling organisations how often their name is mentioned in new media, such as the internet.
What they can also do is search for newly coined words. Once a word has been used 25,000 times on social networking sites and such like, GLM declares it to be a new word. By their calculations a new word is created in English every 98 minutes, hence the estimate that the millionth word is about to be created.
If you talk to lexicographers, however, dictionary professionals, they tell a slightly different story. Dictionaries have tighter criteria about what constitutes a new word, for example, it has to be used over a certain period of time. Lexicographers will tell you that the exact size of English vocabulary is impossible to quantify, but if you accept every technical term or obscure specialist word then we're already way beyond a million. And if you restrict inclusion of specialist slang, then there are possibly three quarters of a million words in English. All of which is way beyond the 20 - 40,000 words that a fluent speaker would use, or the few thousand you could get by with in English. Basically, with 1.5 billion people speaking some version of the language, it's small wonder English is the fastest growing tongue in the world.
Lawrence Pollard, Arts Correspondent, London
Listen
Click to hear the vocabulary
Vocabulary
Show All | Hide All
public relations
the activity of keeping good relationships between an organisation and the people outside it - sometimes abbreviated to 'PR'
monitors web traffic
checks and keeps records of which websites people are visiting
newly coined
(refers to language only) recently invented or used for the first time
tighter criteria
stricter standards by which something is judged or decided
constitutes
is considered as
quantify
measure or count
obscure
not widely known
restrict inclusion of specialist slang
limit the addition of informal language
small wonder
not surprising
tongue
language
BBC Learning English
Words in the News
10th
June 2009
Millionth English word imminent
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
It is being claimed that the millionth word in the English language is about to be created. A
US company which follows the use of language on the internet has made the prediction.
However, traditional dictionary makers aren't so sure…. Lawrence Pollard reports:
The idea of the millionth word entering the English language is a brilliant bit of public
relations for Texas-based Global Language Monitor. GLM runs a powerful search service
which monitors web traffic. They make their money telling organisations how often their
name is mentioned in new media, such as the internet.
What they can also do is search for newly coined words. Once a word has been used 25,000
times on social networking sites and such like, GLM declares it to be a new word. By their
calculations a new word is created in English every 98 minutes, hence the estimate that the
millionth word is about to be created.
If you talk to lexicographers, however, dictionary professionals, they tell a slightly different
story. Dictionaries have tighter criteria about what constitutes a new word, for example, it
has to be used over a certain period of time. Lexicographers will tell you that the exact size of
English vocabulary is impossible to quantify, but if you accept every technical term or
obscure specialist word then we're already way beyond a million. And if you restrict
inclusion of specialist slang, then there are possibly three quarters of a million words in
English. All of which is way beyond the 20 - 40,000 words that a fluent speaker would use, or
the few thousand you could get by with in English. Basically with 1.5 billion people speaking
some version of the language, it's small wonder English is the fastest growing tongue in the
world.
Lawrence Pollard, Arts Correspondent, London
Words in the news © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
public relations the activity of keeping good relationships between an
organisation and the people outside it - sometimes
abbreviated to 'PR'
monitors web traffic checks and keeps records of which websites people are
visiting
newly coined (refers to language only) recently invented or used for the
first time
tighter criteria stricter standards by which something is judged or decided
constitutes is considered as
quantify measure or count
obscure not widely known
restrict inclusion of specialist
slang
limit the addition of informal language
small wonder not surprising
tongue language
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8092549.stm
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2009/06/090610_witn_dict_page.shtml
Thứ Năm, 18 tháng 6, 2009
Millionth English word imminent
US prepares for digital switchover
U
S prepares for digital switchoverSummary
12 June 2009
More than two million households in the US will have blank television screens today when stations across the country switch off their analogue signal for good. The nationwide digital transition has caused a last minute rush to buy converter boxes and new TVs.
Reporter:
Matt Cleghorn reading report from Greg Wood in New York
The switch to the digital television signal makes old analog televisions obsolete unless a converter box has been purchased
Listen
Click to hear the report
Report
American television viewers have been bombarded with a series of adverts over recent weeks, warning them that the analogue signal would be switched off today and urging them to buy set- top converter boxes if they didn't want to lose reception.
The government has issued coupons, worth 40 dollars each, to cover most of the cost. In total the US authorities have spent two billion dollars to smooth the transition. But, according to the Federal Communications Commission, there are still 2.2 million households which have made no preparations.
Unlike the United Kingdom, where the analogue signal is being switched off region by region, the United States has decided to pull the plug in one go, across the nation, leading to accusations that some groups, especially the elderly and the low income households, have been left behind in the digital rush.
Greg Wood, BBC News, New York
Listen
Click to hear the vocabulary
Vocabulary
Show All | Hide All
bombarded
had lots of information directed at them
adverts
commonly used abbreviation for 'advertisements': films, pictures or songs aimed at selling a product or idea to viewers
analogue signal
the system of broadcasting by which televisions currently receive programmes
urging
strongly encouraging
set-top converter boxes
digital receivers which sit on top of televisions and contain the technology to convert TV pictures and sound into a digital format
reception
the television's ability to receive programmes
coupons
official pieces of paper which can be used instead of money
region by region
one area or location at a time
pull the plug
to stop an activity continuing in the way it has done
digital rush
the changeover to digital technology which is happening very quickly
BBC Learning English
Words in the News
12th
June 2009
US prepares for digital switchover
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
More than two million households in the US will have blank television screens today when
stations across the country switch off their analogue signal. The nationwide digital transition
has caused a last minute rush to buy converter boxes and new TVs. Greg Wood reports:
American television viewers have been bombarded with a series of adverts over recent
weeks, warning them that the analogue signal would be switched off today and urging them
to buy set- top converter boxes if they didn't want to lose reception.
The government has issued coupons, worth 40 dollars each, to cover most of the cost. In total
the US authorities have spent two billion dollars to smooth the transition. But, according to
the Federal Communications Commission, there are still 2.2 million households which have
made no preparations.
Unlike the United Kingdom, where the analogue signal is being switched off region by
region, the United States has decided to pull the plug in one go, across the nation, leading to
accusations that some groups, especially the elderly and the low income households, have
been left behind in the digital rush.
Greg Wood, BBC News, New York
Words in the news © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
bombarded had lots of information directed at them
adverts commonly used abbreviation for 'advertisements': films,
pictures or songs aimed at selling a product or idea to
viewers
analogue signal the system of broadcasting by which televisions currently
receive programmes
urging strongly encouraging
set-top converter boxes digital receivers which sit on top of televisions and contain
the technology to convert TV pictures and sound into a
digital format
reception the television's ability to receive programmes
coupons official pieces of paper which can be used instead of
money
region by region one area or location at a time
pull the plug to stop an activity continuing in the way it has done
digital rush the changeover to digital technology which is happening
very quickly
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8096438.stm
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2009/06/090612_witn_digital_page.shtml
Iran opposition rally
I
ran opposition rallySummary
15 June 2009
The leading opposition contender in Iran's presidential election, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, has cancelled a rally planned for later today. Mr Mousavi has condemned the election result, but President Ahmadinejad insists he was fairly re-elected.
Reporter:
Jon Leyne in Tehran
Tensions are running high in Tehran after two days of clashes
Listen
Click to hear the report:
Report
Just hours before the rally was due to start, the leading opposition candidate, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, announced that the demonstration was cancelled because it had not received official permission. I understand from sources close to Mr Mousavi that he was warned that the police and Basij militia had been given authorisation for the first time to use live rounds if the demonstration went ahead.
A smaller rally is in progress in Tehran University at the moment, being addressed by Mr Mousavi's wife Zahra Rahnavard. She's told students that the rally was cancelled because they were worried that the lives of those attending could be in danger. Reports from her rally indicate that paramilitaries are trying to break it up. Students are taking cover in a mosque.
Jon Leyne, BBC News, Tehran
Listen
Click to hear the vocabulary:
Vocabulary
Show All | Hide All
opposition
here, a political power (e.g. a political party or movement) that speak and/or act against the government in a country
announced
said officially and publicly
received official permission
been allowed to go ahead by the authorities
to use live rounds
to fire real bullets and/or shells that can explode and kill people
rally
a gathering of people (usually organised by a political power)
in progress
taking place
attending
taking part in it
indicate
show, tell, prove
paramilitaries
here, people assisting official military forces
to break it up
to stop it, to force the participants to go
BBC Learning English
Words in the News
15th
June 2009
Iran opposition rally cancelled
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
The leading opposition contender in Iran's presidential election, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, has
cancelled a rally planned for later today. Mr Mousavi has condemned the election result, but
President Ahmadinejad insists he was fairly re-elected. From Tehran, Jon Leyne reports:
Just hours before the rally was due to start, the leading opposition candidate, Mir-Hossein
Mousavi, announced that the demonstration was cancelled because it had not received
official permission. I understand from sources close to Mr Mousavi that he was warned that
the police and Basij militia had been given authorisation for the first time to use live rounds
if the demonstration went ahead.
A smaller rally is in progress in Tehran University at the moment, being addressed by Mr
Mousavi's wife Zahra Rahnavard. She's told students that the rally was cancelled because
they were worried that the lives of those attending could be in danger. Reports from her rally
indicate that paramilitaries are trying to break it up. Students are taking cover in a mosque.
Jon Leyne, BBC News, Tehran
Words in the news © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
opposition here, a political power (e.g. a political party or movement)
that speak and/or act against the government in a country
announced said officially and publicly
received official permission been allowed to go ahead by the authorities
to use live rounds to fire real bullets and/or shells that can explode and kill
people
rally a gathering of people (usually organised by a political
power)
in progress taking place
attending taking part in it
indicate show, tell, prove
paramilitaries here, people assisting official military forces
to break it up to stop it, to force the participants to go
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8099952.stm
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2009/06/090615_witn_iran.shtml
Acropolis Museum row
A
cropolis Museum rowSummary
17 June 2009
Workers are putting the final touches to the New Acropolis Museum in Athens in readiness for its opening later this week. The building has been specifically designed to house the Elgin Marbles which are in the British Museum in London.
Reporter:
Malcolm Brabant in Athens
Elgin Marbles on display at the British Museum in London
Listen
Click to hear the report:
Report
This is going to be a very uncomfortable week for Britain. Greece's Culture Minister, Antonis Samaras, has stoked up the pressure by rejecting what he claimed was an offer by the British Museum to loan some of the sculptures that were hacked from the Parthenon at the turn of the 19th Century.
The British Museum said it would consider a three or four month long loan, but only if Greece acknowledged that London was the rightful owner. Mr Samaras said Greece could do no such thing as it would legitimise Lord Elgin's theft and vandalism.
For years, the unsuccessful efforts to secure the return of the long sculpted frieze have been conducted in polite terms by diplomats and academics. Many Greeks have become tired of what one new movement has described as the Athens government's wishy-washy tactics. Over the past four months 100,000 people have signed up for what promises to be a more dynamic campaign. Some of them will demonstrate outside the new museum the night before the inauguration.
The group's leader, Alexis Mantheakis, said that if London could hand back India it should be capable of emptying a room at the British Museum.
Malcolm Brabant, BBC News, Athens
Listen
Click to hear the vocabulary:
Vocabulary
Show All | Hide All
stoked up
literally, added fuel to a fire; here, encouraged and increased
to loan
to give for a certain period of time, not forever
at the turn of
at the beginning of (a set phrase used when talking about centuries)
was the rightful owner
had the legal right to keep
legitimise
confirm the lawfulness of
sculpted frieze
a horizontal band forming part of a classical building, often decorated with sculpted ornaments or figures
wishy-washy
lacking in firm ideas, principles or noticeable qualities
signed up for
decided to join/take part in
inauguration
here, official opening ceremony
hand back
here, to abolish colonial control over
BBC Learning English
Words in the News
17th
June 2009
Acropolis Museum row
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Workers are putting the final touches to the New Acropolis Museum in Athens in readiness for
its opening later this week. The building has been specifically designed to house the Elgin
Marbles which are in the British Museum in London. From Athens Malcolm Brabant reports:
This is going to be a very uncomfortable week for Britain. Greece's Culture Minister, Antonis
Samaras, has stoked up the pressure by rejecting what he claimed was an offer by the British
Museum to loan some of the sculptures that were hacked from the Parthenon at the turn of
the 19th Century.
The British Museum said it would consider a three or four month long loan, but only if
Greece acknowledged that London was the rightful owner. Mr Samaras said Greece could
do no such thing as it would legitimise Lord Elgin's theft and vandalism.
For years, the unsuccessful efforts to secure the return of the long sculpted frieze have been
conducted in polite terms by diplomats and academics. Many Greeks have become tired of
what one new movement has described as the Athens government's wishy-washy tactics.
Over the past four months 100,000 people have signed up for what promises to be a more
dynamic campaign. Some of them will demonstrate outside the new museum the night before
the inauguration.
The group's leader, Alexis Mantheakis, said that if London could hand back India it should
be capable of emptying a room at the British Museum.
Malcolm Brabant, BBC News, Athens
Words in the news © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
stoked up literally, added fuel to a fire; here, encouraged and
increased
to loan to give for a certain period of time, not forever
at the turn of at the beginning of (a set phrase used when talking about
centuries)
was the rightful owner had the legal right to keep
legitimise confirm the lawfulness of
sculpted frieze a horizontal band forming part of a classical building,
often decorated with sculpted ornaments or figures
wishy-washy lacking in firm ideas, principles or noticeable qualities
signed up for decided to join/take part in
inauguration here, official opening ceremony
hand back here, to abolish colonial control over
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7381738.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8096109.stm
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2009/06/090617_witn_acropolis.shtml
Mark's Email Mistake: 3: That's Weird!
T
hat's weird…I'm sure I sent it to you… hang on a minute while I check..."
Mark
Episode 3
Listen to Mark
Hang on – hung on – hung on
Meaning: If you hang on, you wait for a short time.
Grammar: This phrasal verb doesn't usually take an object. If you want to say how long someone waited, or what they were waiting for, you can use the preposition 'for'.
I'm hanging on
We hung on for 20 minutes but the bus didn't come
We can't leave yet – we have to hang on for Peter
Example sentence: Mohammed can't talk right now – he's on the other phone. Would you like to hang on?
Synonyms: wait, stick around
BBC Learning English
Face up to Phrasals
Mark's Email Mistake
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Face up to Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com ©BBC Learning English 2009
Page 1 of 1
Episode 3: That's Weird!
Mark wrote a bad email about his colleague Peter and sent
it to his other colleague, Ali. But Ali says he hasn't
received the email…
Mark: That's weird…I'm sure I sent it to you… hang on a
minute while I check…
That is weird. What on earth has happened to the email?
Find out in episode 4 of Mark's Email Mistake.
.
Hang on – hung on – hung on
Meaning: If you hang on, you wait for a short time.
Grammar: This phrasal verb doesn't usually take an object. If you want to say how long someone
waited, or what they were waiting for, you can use the preposition 'for'.
I'm hanging on
We hung on for 20 minutes but the bus didn't come
We can't leave yet – we have to hang on for Peter
Example sentence: Mohammed can't talk right now – he's on the other phone. Would you like to
hang on?
Synonyms: wait, stick around
Thứ Ba, 16 tháng 6, 2009
Bruv
J
im Pettiward explains the origin, meaning and use of the word 'bruv' and some of its colloquial synonyms. Click below to listen:
Bruv
Bruv. B-R-U-V. 'What's up bruv?' 'What's happenin' bruv?' You may have heard the word and wondered what it means or where it comes from. 'Bruv' – it's a shortened version of brother. Note the spelling B-R-U-V. Often, in informal writing such as song lyrics and text messages, the spelling of words is shortened. In this case, U-V replaces O-T-H. This reflects a certain kind of pronunciation, especially common in London, where people say V or F instead of TH. In 2008 for example, Dizzee Rascal, a London rapper, released a single called 'Dance wiv me' (W-I-V).
The word is widely used to address another male –usually someone that the speaker shares a common bond with, friends or people they know, often people of a similar age to themselves. Using the word 'brother' in this way is certainly not a new phenomenon, so its current popularity is no real surprise. It was widely used in the 1970s and 80s in Black American speech to refer to another black man and to create a common bond among the black community, which still faced discrimination. When Marvin Gaye sang 'What's Happenin' Brother?' he wasn't referring to his brother but to his fellow man.
'Bruv' is probably the most common term, but there are others which have a similar function and express a similar bond – Bro (B-R-O), blud (B-L-U-D) and cuz (C-U-Z) are just some. Again, notice the spelling changes in 'blud' and 'cuz'.
It's now common to find the word 'bruv' in lots of different contexts – not long ago I saw the headline 'Killers of my hero bruv are cowards' in a popular tabloid newspaper. The reality show Big Brother is also routinely referred to as 'Big Bruv' in many newspapers and magazines.
Bruv is an informal usage. You won't find it in more formal spoken or written English, and many people would see it as 'bad English'. But, language is constantly evolving, and in schools and colleges, you'll find young people from all sorts of backgrounds using some of the slang words we've seen in this series.
BBC Learning English
Keep Your English Up To Date
28th
April 2009
Bruv
Keep Your English Up To Date © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Bruv. B-R-U-V. ‘What’s up bruv?’ ‘What’s happenin’ bruv? You may have heard the word
and wondered what it means or where it comes from. ‘Bruv’ – it’s a shortened version of
brother. Note the spelling B-R-U-V. Often, in informal writing such as song lyrics and text
messages, the spelling of words is shortened. In this case, U-V replaces O-T-H. This reflects a
certain kind of pronunciation, especially common in London, where people say V or F instead
of TH. In 2008 for example, Dizzee Rascal, a London rapper, released a single called ‘Dance
wiv me’ (W-I-V).
The word is widely used to address another male –usually someone that the speaker shares a
common bond with, friends or people they know, often people of a similar age to themselves.
Using the word 'brother' in this way is certainly not a new phenomenon, so its current
popularity is no real surprise. It was widely used in the 1970s and 80s in Black American
speech to refer to another black man and to create a common bond among the black
community, which still faced discrimination. When Marvin Gaye sang ‘What’s Happenin’
Brother?’ he wasn’t referring to his brother but to his fellow man.
‘Bruv’ is probably the most common term, but there are others which have a similar function
and express a similar bond – Bro (B-R-O), blud (B-L-U-D) and cuz (C-U-Z) are just some.
Again, notice the spelling changes in ‘blud’ and ‘cuz’.
It’s now common to find the word ‘bruv’ in lots of different contexts – not long ago I saw the
headline ‘Killers of my hero bruv are cowards’ in a popular tabloid newspaper. The reality
show Big Brother is also routinely referred to as ‘Big Bruv’ in many newspapers and
magazines.
Bruv is an informal usage. You won’t find it in more formal spoken or written English, and
many people would see it as ‘bad English’. But, language is constantly evolving, and in
Keep Your English Up To Date © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
schools and colleges, you’ll find young people from all sorts of backgrounds using some of
the slang words we’ve seen in this series.
Jim Pettiward has a BA (hons) in French and Spanish, CTEFLA and Trinity TESOL Diploma.
He has taught EFL, EAP, ESP and Business English in Ecuador, Venezuela, Hungary and the
UK. He has also worked as an ICT trainer for the British Council and the University of the
Arts, London. He is currently teaching English for Academic Purposes in the Department of
Humanities, Arts, Languages and Education at London Metropolitan University.
Buff
B
uff
Jim Pettiward explains the origin, meaning and use of the word 'buff' and some of its colloquial synonyms. Click below to listen:
Buff
Buff – B-U-F-F. ‘That new girl in our class is well buff’. This is an adjective which, in youth slang, means attractive or well-toned. Somebody who is buff has an attractive body, they look ‘fit’.
I guess one of the difficult things for anyone trying to learn English, and trying to keep up with the latest vocabulary, is the fact that some words seem to have so many different, and totally unrelated meanings. How on earth are they supposed to know which is the correct meaning?
Well, of course, context is important. By looking at the context in which you see or hear the word, you should be able to work out which meaning is most likely when you look it up. ‘Buff’ is one of those words which has several meanings and whose latest meaning may not be in your dictionary at all.
As a noun it is often used to describe a person who is really into a particular hobby or pastime. It’s usually combined with the word describing the hobby, so a film buff is someone who really loves film and probably knows quite a lot about it. The word buff here implies an enthusiastic or almost obsessional interest in something.
As a verb ‘to buff’ means to polish or shine something with a cloth, to give something a shiny finish. This meaning is said to come from the word buffalo, an animal whose skin was used for leather and this leather was in turn often used to polish metal objects. From there came the adjective ‘buff’ meaning a dull yellow colour, the colour of the buffalo leather.
And more recently, as an adjective it has come to mean ‘attractive’ or ‘fit’. It’s not exactly clear why. Perhaps because a well-toned, tanned, fit person may look buff, like they’ve just been ‘buffed’, so they have a kind of ‘polished’ look.
There is one last expression with ‘buff’ which you should probably know, and that is ‘in the buff’ – it means naked, with no clothes on. This might be because the original meaning of buff referred to leather or skin so ‘in the buff’ means just in our skin.
Anyway, at least now if you see a ‘buff buff buffing in the buff’ you’ll know what it means!
BBC Learning English
Keep Your English Up To Date
5th
May 2009
Buff
Keep Your English Up To Date © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Buff – B-U-F-F. ‘That new girl in our class is well buff’. This is an adjective which, in
youth slang, means attractive or well-toned. Somebody who is buff has an attractive body,
they look ‘fit’.
I guess one of the difficult things for anyone trying to learn English, and trying to keep up
with the latest vocabulary, is the fact that some words seem to have so many different and
totally unrelated meanings. How on earth are they supposed to know which is the correct
meaning?
Well, of course, context is important. By looking at the context in which you see or hear the
word, you should be able to work out which meaning is most likely when you look it up.
‘Buff’ is one of those words which has several meanings and whose latest meaning may not
be in your dictionary at all.
As a noun it is often used to describe a person who is really into a particular hobby or pastime.
It’s usually combined with the word describing the hobby, so a film buff is someone who
really loves film and probably knows quite a lot about it. The word 'buff' here implies an
enthusiastic or almost obsessional interest in something.
As a verb ‘to buff’ means to polish or shine something with a cloth, to give something a shiny
finish. This meaning is said to come from the word 'buffalo', an animal whose skin was used
for leather and this leather was in turn often used to polish metal objects. From there came the
adjective ‘buff’, meaning a dull yellow colour, the colour of the buffalo leather.
And more recently, as an adjective it has come to mean ‘attractive’ or ‘fit’. It’s not exactly
clear why. Perhaps because a well-toned, tanned, fit person may look buff, like they’ve just
been ‘buffed’, so they have a kind of ‘polished’ look.
Keep Your English Up To Date © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
There is one last expression with ‘buff’ which you should probably know, and that is ‘in the
buff’ – it means naked, with no clothes on. This might be because the original meaning of
'buff' referred to leather or skin so ‘in the buff’ means just in our skin.
Anyway, at least now if you see a ‘buff buff buffing in the buff’ you’ll know what it means!
Jim Pettiward has a BA (hons) in French and Spanish, CTEFLA and Trinity TESOL Diploma.
He has taught EFL, EAP, ESP and Business English in Ecuador, Venezuela, Hungary and the
UK. He has also worked as an ICT trainer for the British Council and the University of the
Arts, London. He is currently teaching English for Academic Purposes in the Department of
Humanities, Arts, Languages and Education at London Metropolitan University.
