2011年ESL之日常生活 07 Getting a Makeover

07 Getting a Makeover

GLOSSARY 1

makeover – a service in which one changes one’s appearance by changingone’s hair, makeup 2 and clothing; a professional service that changes one’sappearance

* Carrie agreed to get a makeover, but she wouldn’t let anyone cut her long hair.

to have no say – for one’s opinion not to matter; for one to not be in control of asituation; for one not to be able to determine what will happen

* As soon as I turn 18 years old, I’ll be able to do whatever I want and you willhave no say in it.

intervention 3 – a process in which close friends or relatives tell someonesomething that is difficult or painful to hear, especially to confront 4 someone abouta serious problem, like alcoholism or a drug addiction 5

* Jake, we’ve asked you to come here tonight for an intervention. We’re allworried about how much you’ve been drinking lately.

to let (oneself) go – to stop caring about one’s physical appearance; to stopworrying about whether one is beautiful; to stop trying to dress well and lookpretty

* Jacques is afraid to get married because he thinks his future wife will let herselfgo.

to primp – to spend time in front of a mirror, making small changes to makeoneself more attractive and more beautiful

* How many hours a day do you think she spends primping in front of the mirrorto look like that?

to get dolled up – to dress up; to put on nice clothes and do one’s hair andmakeup nicely; to try to look as nice as possible for a special occasion or event

* The senior prom is a special night when all of the students can get dolled up.

frumpy – referring to things that are old, wrinkled 6, and out of style or notfashionable

* When you wear such frumpy clothing, it makes you look at least 10 years olderthan you actually are.

out-of-date – outdated 7; not modern or current; not fashionable; relating to anearlier period of time

* The market is changing so quickly that this new product will be out-of-date bythe time we’re able to manufacture it.

look – style; one’s type of physical appearance

* Martina likes to wear different glasses every day to change her look.

transformation 8 – a major or important change; a complete or thorough 9 change

* If a phone company wants to be successful, it will have to go through atransformation to better serve smart phones and provide wireless 10 Internetservice.

appearance – the way one appears or looks to other people; the way one isseen physically 11

* Sarah warned her parents that her boyfriend was a really nice person, butbecause of his long hair and tattoos 12 it might take them a while to get used to hisappearance.

to update – to change something to make it more modern or more appropriatefor the current situation.

* Would you please update your sales report with the most recent figures?

free rein 13 – the ability or permission to do whatever one wants without beingcontrolled or monitored by other people

* You can have free rein to decorate your room however you want, but you can’tspend more than $100.

to come quietly – to do something without protesting or fighting against it; toagree to do something without complaining about it

* I need you to do something right now and I don’t have time to explain it. Pleasetrust me and come quietly.

one way or another – a phrase used to insist that someone do something whenhe or she does not have control over how it will be done; a phrase used to makesomeone do something he or she does not want to do

* You have to pay your taxes one way or another, so just do it withoutcomplaining.

to drag (someone) kicking and screaming – to force someone do somethinghe or she does not want to do; to make someone do something he or she isstrongly opposed to and is complaining loudly about

* I don’t want to go to a country music concert. If you want me to go with you,you’ll have to drag me kicking and screaming.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What did Ellie do in the past that she isn’t doing now?

a) She used to spend more time improving her appearance.

b) She used to curl her hair.

c) She used to play with dolls.

2. According to Kurt, what is wrong with Ellie’s clothes?

a) Her clothes are too big.

b) Her clothes are too small.

c) Her clothes don’t look nice.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

to let (oneself) go

The phrase “to let (oneself) go,” in this podcast, means to stop caring about one’sphysical appearance and stop worrying about whether one is beautiful: “After thebirth of her twins, Meghan really let herself go.” The phrase “to let (something)go” means to stop worry about something: “Yes, you lost some money, but it wasjust $20, so let it go!” The phrase “to let (someone) down” means to disappointsomeone, or to do something that makes another person feel sad: “Heapologized to his parents for having let them down.” The phrase “to let(something) slip” means to share a secret accidentally: “I didn’t mean to tell him,but somehow I just let it slip.” Finally, the phrase “to let (someone) in on(something)” means to share a secret with someone or to let someone knowwhat is happening: “Why did you let her in on our plans?”

look

In this podcast, the word “look” means style or one’s type of physicalappearance: “You’ll need to change your look if you want to be treated as abusiness professional.” Or, “Do a lot of people in Texas like the cowboy look?”

The phrase “to give (someone) a look” means to look at someone with aparticular facial expression: “Don’t give me that look! If you don’t like what I’mdoing, just tell me!” The phrase “to take a long, hard look” means to examine orinspect something carefully: “Shamus took a long, hard look at his life andrealized he needed to make some important changes.” Finally, the phrase “tonot like the look of (something)” means that one thinks something bad willhappen: “I don’t like the look of those dark clouds. I think a bad storm is coming.”

CULTURE NOTE

Many people are “fascinated” (very interested in) by makeover TV shows wherethey can see before and after “shots” (photographs) or “footage” (recorded video)of an individual’s physical appearance after professional “stylists” (professionalswho give advice and help someone with his or her appearance) have “had theirway” (been able to do what they want).

In one show called What Not to Wear, the hosts “criticize” (say bad things about)an individual’s clothing, hair, and makeup. Then they give that person a certainamount of money to be spent on new clothes in two days. The cameras “are stillrolling” (continue to record) while that person goes shopping and the hosts helphim or her buy more fashionable clothes. Then professional stylists change theperson’s hair and makeup, and the individual “models” (shows what the clotheslook like) the new “outfits” (pieces of clothing that are designed to be worntogether) for everyone to see.

Other shows, like Extreme Makeover, are more “extreme” (taking something veryseriously). In that show, the participants “engage in” (becoming involved in)exercise programs, nutrition programs, and “plastic surgery” (surgery to makeone more beautiful) to change their physical appearance. Friends and familymembers are not allowed to see the person until the end of the show, and thenthey are “shocked” (very surprised) by the “dramatic” (very big and involvingstrong emotions) transformation.

Some makeover shows aren’t for people, but instead are for homes. Manyshows have professional “interior designers” (people whose job is to decoratehomes) change the appearance of a single room or an entire home, usually witha “tight budget” (with a small amount of money). The owner usually isn’t allowedto see the work “in progress” (while it is happening) and instead is brought inafter everything has been finished.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – c

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT 14

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 679: Getting aMakeover.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 15 679. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

This episode, like all of our current episodes 16, has an 8- to 10-page LearningGuide that you can download on our website. Go to eslpod.com.

This episode is about a “makeover,” when someone tries to change their physicalappearance for the better, to change it to make them look better. Let’s getstarted.

[start of dialogue]

Kurt: Come with me.

Ellie: Where are you taking me?

Kurt: I’m giving you a makeover and you have no say about it.

Ellie: A makeover?! I don’t need a makeover.

Kurt: Yes, you do. I’m your best friend and this is an intervention. You’re sobusy these days that you’ve let yourself go.

Ellie: I haven’t let myself go. I just don’t spend as much time as I used toprimping and getting dolled up, that’s all.

Kurt: On that we agree. Your clothes are frumpy and your hairstyle is 10 yearsout-of-date. Come on. I’m taking you to get a new look. It’ll be a completetransformation.

Ellie: Okay, I admit that my appearance needs a little updating, but I’m not givingyou free rein on what changes to make.

Kurt: I’m willing to let you have some say in that – if you come quietly.

Ellie: And if I don’t?

Kurt: You’re getting this makeover one way or another, even if I have to drag youkicking and screaming!

[end of dialogue]

Kurt begins by saying to Ellie, “Come with me.” Ellie says, “Where are you takingme?” Kurt says, “I’m giving you a makeover and you have no say about it.” A“makeover” (one word) is a service where you change your appearance, usuallyby changing your hair, your clothing, perhaps, especially if you’re a woman, themakeup that you put on your face. It tries to improve your overall – your generalappearance.

Kurt says he’s going to give Ellie a makeover and she has no say about it. Theexpression “to have no say” (say) means that you cannot say no, you will notdetermine the situation, you won’t determine what will happen, your opiniondoesn’t matter.” Ellie says, “A makeover?! I don’t need a makeover.” Kurt says,“Yes, you do. I’m your best friend and this is an intervention.” An “intervention,”

when used in this context 17, means when your close friends and/or relatives tellsomeone something that is very difficult for them to hear, especially if it’s about aserious problems such as alcoholism or drug addiction. Kurt is using itsomewhat humorously here; he’s making a joke. This isn’t, of course, a seriousproblem, but he’s acting 18 as though it were. Kurt says, “You’re so busy thesedays (nowadays; recently) that you’ve let yourself go.” “To let yourself go”

means that you stop caring about your physical appearance; you stop worryingabout whether you are beautiful or handsome. You stop trying to dress well andfor a woman to look pretty. “Jacques is afraid to get married because he thinkshis future wife will let herself go after the wedding is over.” There are a couple ofdifferent meanings of this expression however; take a look at our Learning Guidefor some additional explanations.

Ellie says, “I haven’t let myself go. I just don’t spend as much time as I used to(as I did in the past) primping and getting dolled up, that’s all.” “To primp” (primp)means to spend time in front of a mirror making small changes to yourappearance – to your hair, to your makeup – so that you look more attractive,you look more beautiful. I do this every morning, of course, especially with myhair! Ellie also says that she doesn’t take as much time anymore to get dolledup. “To get dolled (dolled) up” is a phrasal verb meaning to put on nice clothes,to make sure that your hair looks pretty, to try to look nice for usually a specialevent – a special, what we would call, “occasion.” Another way of saying this issimply “to dress up.” “To dress up” means to dress very nicely. In some placesin the United States, Los Angeles for example, Honolulu definitely, the way that people dress is more informal, more relaxed, we would say more “casual.” Theopposite of that would be to be dressed up, to have a suit and a tie if you’re aman, or to have a pantsuit for a woman or a nice dress. These are the ways thatyou can get dolled up, to be dressed up. “To get dolled up” is used more oftenfor a woman however, as is the general term “makeover,” but not exclusively.

That is, sometimes we could also describe a man as getting a makeover.

Kurt says, “On that we agree,” meaning we agree you don’t spend as much timeas you used to primping and getting dolled up. Kurt says, “Your clothes arefrumpy.” “Frumpy” (frumpy) refers to things that are old, wrinkled, out of style,things that are not fashionable anymore. That’s “frumpy,” not as common of aword as it once was but you’ll still hear it and read it. Kurt says, “your hairstyle is10 years out-of-date.” “Your hairstyle (the way that you have your hair, the wayyou comb your hair) is 10 years out-of-date.” To be “out-of-date” means thesame to be old, not modern, we might also say to be “outdated.” For example, inthe 60s and 70s it was common to see men with long hair, but then in the 80sand 90s that was considered outdated by a lot of people; it was no longerfashionable, it was no longer considered modern.

Kurt says to Ellie, “Come on (meaning come with me). I’m taking you to get anew look.” The word “look,” used as a noun, means the same as “style,” it’s yourtype of physical appearance. If you put on a different pair of glasses and youchange the color of your hair, you would have a different look – a new look, anew appearance. “Look” has a couple of other meanings in English, and thosecan be found in the Learning Guide. So Kurt says to Ellie that he’s going to gether a new look; he says, “It’ll be a complete transformation.” A “transformation”

is a major or an important change. It’s when you change something verythoroughly or completely. So, he’s going to take her somewhere where she isgoing to have her physical appearance transformed. The verb is “to transform,”

the noun is “transformation.”

Ellie says, “Okay, I admit (meaning I agree with you; I will tell you) that myappearance needs a little updating.” Your “appearance” is similar to your “look,”

it’s the way that you look, the way that you appear to other people, the way thatthey see you physically. “To update” (update – one word) means to makesomething more modern, more appropriate for the current situation – the currenttime period in which you are living. Ellie says, “I’m not giving you free rein onwhat changes to make.” “Free rein” (rein) is the ability to do whatever you want,without being controlled or monitored by other people. You don’t need anyone’spermission to do what you’re doing.

Ellie is not going to give Kurt free rein on the changes to make. Kurt says, “I’mwilling to let you have some say in it.” Notice again we see this word “say,” inthis case it means I’m going to allow you to make some decisions, to say yes orno to certain changes. Kurt says he’ll let Ellie have some say if she comesquietly. “To come quietly” means to do something without fighting against it,without protesting; to agree to do something willingly, without complaining,without saying, “Oh, I don’t want to go. I don’t want to do that.” Ellie says, “And ifI don’t?” meaning and if I don’t come quietly. Kurt says, “You’re getting thismakeover one way or another.” The expression “one way or another” is used toinsist that someone do something when he or she does not have control overhow it will be done. It’s a phrase that we use to make someone do somethingeven if they don’t want to. “One way or another, I’m going to get my money frommy brother.” He may not want to give it to me, but I am going to get it from himsomehow.

Kurt says that he’s going to give Ellie this makeover one way or another, even ifhe have to drag her kicking and screaming. “To drag (drag) (someone) kickingand screaming” is an expression that means to force someone to do somethingthat he or she does not want to do, to make someone do something that theydon’t want to even if they complain, even if they yell 19 loudly, which is what“screaming” is, even if they “kick,” which is to use your legs to try to hurt or injuresomeone else. Of course, most people don’t actually kick and scream; the ideais that even if you complain loudly you still are going to have to do this, and that’swhat Kurt is telling Ellie. I’m not sure if Kurt is such a good friend here. He’sbeing honest with Ellie, but he also is being what may be considered rude intelling her that basically she’s ugly and she doesn’t look very good now. Not sureif Kurt and Ellie will be friends for much longer!

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Kurt: Come with me.

Ellie: Where are you taking me?

Kurt: I’m giving you a makeover and you have no say about it.

Ellie: A makeover?! I don’t need a makeover.

Kurt: Yes, you do. I’m your best friend and this is an intervention. You’re sobusy these days that you’ve let yourself go.

Ellie: I haven’t let myself go. I just don’t spend as much time as I used toprimping and getting dolled up, that’s all.

Kurt: On that we agree. Your clothes are frumpy and your hairstyle is 10 yearsout-of-date. Come on. I’m taking you to get a new look. It’ll be a completetransformation.

Ellie: Okay, I admit that my appearance needs a little updating, but I’m not givingyou free rein on what changes to make.

Kurt: I’m willing to let you have some say in that – if you’ll come quietly.

Ellie: And if I don’t?

Kurt: You’re getting this makeover one way or another, even if I have to drag youkicking and screaming!

[end of dialogue]

Our dialogues are never out-of-date, thanks to our wonderful scriptwriter Dr. LucyTse.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us again on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2011 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.