+09.04 Stereotypes Flashcards
To * someone is to put them in a mental “box,” assuming they can only do one thing or be one type of person.
In physical terms, a * is a small space to store something neatly.
Pigeon hole
- “She’s a great actress, but Hollywood pigeonholed her as a rom-com star.”
“Don’t pigeonhole me as just a teacher—I also write and paint!”
- “He left the letter in my pigeonhole at work.”
What is stereotype?
It is oversimplification
+ Idiom
Feels like something aged or exhausted you quickly
Idiom used to express that an experience was intense, tiring, or overwhelming.
Informal, conversational, still common in Ireland
Put years on me
*That exam stress really put years on me.
*Looking after five kids all day? It puts years on you!
*Waiting for that news put years on me—I was so nervous!
Idiom: Used to say you’re not easily fooled or naive
Informal, conversational, still commonly used
I wasn’t born yesterday
- You really think I’d fall for that scam? I wasn’t born yesterday!
Idiom
No longer at the best age or condition for doing something, especially physically or professionally.
Informal, slightly critical, still common in everyday speech.
Past his prime
*He used to be a top athlete, but now he’s clearly past his prime.
*That singer is past his prime, but he still has a loyal fanbase.
Idiom
Not young anymore, often used humorously or to refer to someone who’s getting older.
Informal, often used in casual conversations.
Old-fashioned
No spring chicken
He’s no spring chicken, but he still runs marathons every year.
She might be no spring chicken, but she’s full of energy!
Phrase
Meaning: Approaching the age of 40, typically used to describe someone who is close to but hasn’t yet reached 40.
Tone, register, and style: Informal, casual; mostly used in conversational contexts, often with a humorous or light-hearted tone.
Pushing 40/50…
- He’s pushing 40 but still acts like he’s in his twenties.
Phrase
To be past the midpoint of life, often implying that a person is no longer young or is getting older.
Informal, casual; can be humorous or slightly pejorative, depending on context
Be over the hill
- At 50, he feels like he’s over the hill, but he’s still very active.
Phrase
To forget something temporarily or to act confused, typically due to age, often used humorously.
Informal, casual; often used with a light-hearted or self-deprecating tone.
Old-fashioned
Have a senior moment
- She couldn’t remember where she put her keys and jokingly said, “I’m having a senior moment!”
Idiom
To be getting old, often suggesting someone is becoming too old for a particular activity.
Informal, slightly humorous or critical; can sound a bit old-fashioned, though still understood and occasionally used.
Get long in the tooth
- He’s getting a bit long in the tooth to be playing competitive football.
not skilled or effective
inept /ɪˈnept/
inept at: * He was always rather inept at sport.
- a fight, especially during a war
- to try to stop something unpleasant from happening
Combat /ˈkɒm.bæt/
- in combat: * No one knew how many troops had died in combat.
- to combat crime/terrorism/inflation/disease
*The government is spending millions of dollars in its attempt to combat drug abuse.
Phrase
To quickly and easily become good at or comfortable with something, especially a new activity.
Neutral tone, modern and commonly used in both spoken and written English.
Take naturally to + V-ing
- She took naturally to painting and was already producing beautiful work after a few weeks.
- He took naturally to speaking in public, even though it was his first time.
Adj
lasting for a long time or difficult to get rid of
Persistent
- Symptoms of the illness include a high temperature and a persistent dry cough.
- Persistent runny nose/ cough/ headache
Verb
To lose strength or confidence, or to hesitate or stumble—either physically or in speech or decision-making.
Neutral tone, commonly used in both formal and literary contexts
Falter /ˈfɒl.tər/
- She didn’t falter once during her speech, even in front of such a large audience.
- His voice faltered when he spoke about the accident.
Adjective
Not working correctly; having mistakes or flaws.
Neutral tone, commonly used in everyday and formal contexts.
Faulty
- The engineer traced the problem to a faulty wire.
- He returned the phone because the screen was faulty.
Phrase
Having difficulty coming up with an idea or remembering something; mentally stuck.
Informal, very common in casual conversation.
I’m struggling to think
- I’m struggling to think of a good gift for her birthday.
- He was so tired he was struggling to think straight during the meeting.
Noun
A child’s toy in the shape of a horse mounted on rockers or springs that allows it to move back and forth.
Neutral tone, commonly used when talking about children’s toys; still relevant today, though somewhat nostalgic.
Rocking horse
- When I was little, I had a wooden rocking horse I used to ride for hours.
- They bought their granddaughter a beautiful old-fashioned rocking horse for Christmas.
Noun
A heavy base or platform on which a statue, column, or structure stands.
Neutral, formal or architectural language; still commonly used in design, art, and construction contexts.
Plinth
- The statue was mounted on a marble plinth in the centre of the square.
- The museum displayed the sculpture on a raised plinth for better viewing.
