Teachers of English Language and Literature - Rockview University

English Today👇👇
What's the difference between fashion and style? What words would you use to describe what you wear? Build your vocabulary on this topic as you go through this lesson.

Fashion and style

Both 'fashion' and 'style' are words used to talk about things that are popular at a certain point in time. They can refer to clothing, as well as other trends, like music or activities.

If something is 'in fashion' or 'in style' it is currently popular.

Those platform shoes are really in fashion.

I think long dresses are in style these days.

That colour is really coming into fashion, isn't it?

I like to read fashion magazines to learn about what's in style.

If something is no longer popular, you might say it has 'gone out of style' or 'gone out of fashion'.

We also use 'style' to talk about a person's individual taste in clothing.

I like her style. She always wears nice accessories.

He has great style. He is always well dressed when I see him.

We can also use ‘style’ as a verb.

The way her hair was styled for her wedding was very beautiful.

The room was styled very conservatively.

If we say something has 'style' we mean it is of the highest quality, or done with elegance and grace.

He does everything with style.

This brand of watch is known for its reliability and style.

Formal or casual?

A 'dress code' is a set of rules or guidelines for what you can wear in a certain situation.

‘Formal wear’ is a type of dress or attire worn to special events like weddings, dinners and certain types of work events. Examples of formal wear include: suits, tuxedos, evening dresses or gowns, heels and dress shoes.

We had to dress in formal wear when we went to dinner with the president.

'Formal wear' is some times described as 'black tie'.
‘Casual wear’ is what you wear outside of work or on the weekend, when you are relaxing. Some examples include jeans, shorts, with sandals, sneakers or thongs (flip-flops)
My friend’s birthday party was at the beach so we turned up in casual.

Picked randomly👇
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The heart is the hardest working muscle in a human’s body, pumping approximately five litres of blood per minute. It supplies the entire body with oxygen and nutrients and helps to remove waste products such as carbon dioxide.

it
‘It’ is used as reference to a specific thing, place, fact or situation.
We went to a new restaurant on the weekend. It was very good. [Place]
I wasn’t expecting them to come on the weekend. It was a total surprise. [Situation]
The swimming hole has a waterfall, it is so fresh and clean. [Fact]
I can’t find my phone, it has to be in the car as that is where I last used it. [Thing]
How can you use ‘it’ in the following sentences?
1. The road has many cars. _______________
____________________ [Thing]
2. I don’t like pasta.________________________
___________ [Fact]
3. The bank is in the city.__________
_________________________ [Place]
4. My friends came to dinner at my house last night._____________________________
[Situation]
5. The internet is down.__________
_________________________ [Fact]

homophones
Homophones are words that sound the same but have a different meaning and spelling.
knew – new
throne – thrown
whole – hole
bored – board
hour – our
How many homophones can you think of?
Add your top five to the list..

The word ‘hand’ is used in a number of ways in idioms and phrasal verbs. We can also use ‘hand’ with a range of prepositions that change its meaning.
‘At hand’ means close by or within reach.
Keep a torch at hand in case the electricity is cut off.
‘At hand’ can also refer to something that is current.
Let’s look after the business at hand before we talk about new projects.
To have something ‘in hand’ means to have it under control.
By Friday night the arrangements for the party will be in hand.
‘By hand’ means made by the hands of a person, rather than a machine.
It is amazing to think this rug was made by hand.
a. At hand
b. In hand
c. By hand
Use the best word/phrase in the spaces provided;
1. It would be best if we kept a spare tyre ______ in case we get a flat.
2. You can only really trust things that are made _______.
3. She is doing a great job, she already has the new project ______.

The phrase ‘sticky wicket’ is used to describe a difficult situation.
‘I failed to hand in the last two assignments so I’m on a sticky wicket now.’
‘To be stumped’ means to have no idea how to solve a problem.
‘I’ve tried everything to fix the car, I am completely stumped.’
‘To catch someone out’ means to outsmart them, or to discover that they have done something wrong.
‘I caught her out when I discovered the missing files on her computer.’
Make a sentence with each phrase:
1. On a sticky wicket
2. To be stumped
3. To catch someone out

more socks
Work your socks off
To ‘work your socks off’ is to work very hard.
‘The lawyers I know earn a lot of money but they work their socks off.’
Bless your cotton socks
To ‘bless someone’s cotton socks’ is a way to express affection, often towards a child.
‘My niece won the school art prize, bless her cotton socks,.
Sock someone
To ‘sock’ someone means to hit them, usually in a playful manner.
‘They were playing nicely until he socked his brother.’
Make an example sentence with each of the above phrases and we will tell you whether you are right or wrong.
1. Work your socks off
2. Bless his/her cotton socks
3. Sock someone