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ESL Podcast 867 – Talking About Attractive
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GLOSSARY
hottie – someone who is very beautiful and sexually attractive
* Apparently, Dave is dating a hottie, but I haven’t met her yet.
babe – a beautiful, very attractive young woman
* Nikolai often talks about the babes he went out with in college.
to sway – to gently move from side to side, especially when talking about one’s
hips
* Look at how she’s swaying her hips to get the men’s attention.
to ogle – to stare at someone in an unpleasant way, especially in a sexually
aggressive way
* Many women don’t feel comfortable walking by construction sites, because they
think the men are ogling them.
to undress (someone) with (one’s) eyes – to look at someone while pretending
that he or she is naked, imagining what that person would look like without
clothes on
* Sheila hates talking to Gregorio, because she says it always feels like he’s
undressing her with his eyes.
to avert (one’s) gaze – to turn one’s eyes away from someone or something; to
focus one’s vision on something else
* The reporter warned viewers to avert their eyes, because the images would be
upsetting.
to check out – to look at and pay attention to someone or something
* Check out that couch! Wouldn’t that look great in our living room?
tall, dark, and handsome – a phrase used to describe the perfect man that
many women are looking for, someone who is tall, has dark skin and dark eyes,
and is very attractive
* At this point, Meghan has given up looking for someone who is tall, dark, and
handsome. She’s just looking for someone who is kind and has a job!
pretty boy – a man who cares a lot about his physical appearance and spends a
lot of time and money trying to make himself more handsome
* I could never marry a pretty boy who spends more time in front of the mirror
than I do!
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ESL Podcast 867 – Talking About Attractive
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to be into (oneself) – to be very interested in oneself and one’s interests and
appearance, and much less interested in other people; to be very self-centered
and selfish
* Owen is so into himself! During the hurricane, he kept worrying about what all
the wind was doing to his hair, and didn’t seem to care that other people were
losing their homes.
to pose – to position one’s body in a particular way, especially for a photograph,
usually to appear more beautiful or powerful
* The photographer asked Jenna to pose with her head leaning toward her left
shoulder and her hand on her hip.
exhibitionist – someone who wants to be noticed by other people and does
surprising and unexpected things to get other people to look at oneself
* I think Andrei became a singer because he’s an exhibitionist who loves having
an audience.
teeny tiny – very small; extremely small
* Hermione has a terrible fear of bugs and screams whenever she sees even a
teeny tiny insect.
bikini – a small, two-piece bathing suit for a woman, designed to allow other
people to see a lot of her body
* A competitive swimmer needs a strong, one-piece swimming suit, not a bikini.
to show off – to make something visible to other people so that they can admire
it and make one feel good
* Jeremiah was trying to show off while playing basketball, but the coach got mad
at him for not passing the ball to the other players.
what God gave (one) – a phrase used to describe the natural attributes and/or
physical appearance that a person has, based on genetics, not the changes one
has made to one’s body
* Cristina is considering getting plastic surgery to her nose to improve on what
God gave her.
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COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. What is a hottie?
a) A woman who is very attractive.
b) A woman who is wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
c) A woman who is very young.
2. What are the women wearing?
a) Nothing at all.
b) Very small swimsuits.
c) Light jackets.
______________
WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?
babe
The word “babe,” in this podcast, means a beautiful, very attractive young
woman: “He’s telling everybody that his new girlfriend is a babe.” The word
“babe” can also be used when speaking to a young woman, especially a
girlfriend, although it may be considered rude or inappropriate: “Hey babe, do
you want to go see a movie with me on Friday?” A “babe” is sometimes a human
baby: “The young mother leaned over her babe to protect him from the rain.”
Finally, the phrase “a babe in the woods” describes someone who is very naïve
and can be tricked or fooled easily: “Armando may be very intelligent, but he is a
babe in arms in social situations and people often take advantage of him.”
to pose
In this podcast, the verb “to pose” means to position one’s body in a particular
way, especially for a photograph, usually to appear more beautiful or powerful:
“Before there were cameras, important politicians had to pose for hours to have
their image painted or sculpted.” The verb “to pose” can also mean to present a
problem or a risk: “The approaching storm poses a risk to the local farmers.” The
phrase “to pose a question” means to ask a question: “She posed a question
asking the presenter whether his management ideas would work in a factory.”
Finally, the phrase “to pose as (someone)” means to pretend to be somebody
else, usually to trick another person: “Have you ever posed as your twin?” Or, “It
is a crime to pose as a police officer.”
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CULTURE NOTE
Beauty Pageants
The United States has many “beauty pageants” (competitions that identify the
most beautiful woman) at local, regional, state, and national levels. In general,
the winners of the local and regional levels “advance to” (move up to compete in)
the state level, and the winners of the state level compete at the regional or
national level.
The “annual” (happening every year) Miss America pageant began in 1921.
Today, it presents itself as a scholarship pageant, as the winner and the
“runners-up” (people who almost got 1
st
place, but did not win) receive
“scholarships” (money that can be used for one’s education). The winner is
“crowned” (given a shiny object to wear on the top front of her head, like a
queen) “Miss America” and attends many events throughout the year “in that
capacity” (in that role; as Miss America).
In 1950, a Miss America pageant “contestant” (someone who is participating in a
competition) refused to wear a swimsuit for “publicity pictures” (photographs used
to promote the event). The pageant “sponsor” (a company that provides money
for an event to happen) “pulled” (removed; took away) its sponsorship and
created an alternative pageant: Miss USA.
Miss USA began in 1952. The winner, who is crowned “Miss USA” represents the
United States in the international Miss Universe pageant.
Other pageants allow younger and older women to compete. Miss Teen USA is a
pageant for teenagers, girls ages 13-19. The Mrs. America pageant allows
married women ages 20-50 to participate, with the winner “going on” (advancing)
to the Mrs. World pageant.
______________
Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – b
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ESL Podcast 867 – Talking About Attractive
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COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 867: Talking About
Attractive Men and Women
This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 867. I’m your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.
Our website is ESLPod.com. Become a member of ESL Podcast and download
the Learning Guide for this episode. You can also take a look on our website at
our ESL Podcast Store which has some additional courses in business and daily
English I’m sure you will enjoy.
This episode is a dialog between Pamela and David about how we might
describe physically attractive men and women – not me, in other words. Let’s get
started.
[start of dialog]
Pamela: You know that your tongue is hanging out of your mouth, right?
David: That’s because I’ve never seen so many beautiful women in one place
before. Why have I never been to this beach before? Look at her! She’s a
hottie!
Pamela: Isn’t that what you said about that woman over there?
David: No, I said she’s a babe. Look at the way she sways when she walks.
Pamela: Stop ogling her or her boyfriend or husband is going to come over here.
David: I’m not ogling. I’m admiring the perfection of the female body.
Pamela: You’re undressing her with your eyes. Avert your gaze before you
regret it. Oh, wow!
David: What?
Pamela: Check out that guy over there. Hello, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome!
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David: That pretty boy over there? He’s too into himself. Look at the way he’s
posing so every woman on this beach can get a look at him. He’s nothing but an
exhibitionist.
Pamela: And the women you’ve been ogling in the teeny tiny bikinis?
David: Those women? They’re just showing off what God gave them!
[end of dialog]
Pamela begins by saying, “You know that your tongue is hanging out of your
mouth, right?” The expression “to have your tongue” – which is, of course, inside
of your mouth normally – “hanging out of your mouth” means that you are sort of
like a dog or an animal that sees food and, in reaction to that, sticks his tongue
out. The tongue comes out, indicating that he wants that food – that he wants to
eat that food.
Sometimes, this expression is used to describe men who see beautiful women or
a beautiful woman and are sort of not aware that they are looking at them or that
they are showing their interest in such an obvious way. Pamela is saying that
about David. David says, “That’s because I’ve never seen so many beautiful
women in one place before. Why have I never been to this beach before?”
So they are down by probably the ocean, or a lake that has a beach – a place,
usually filled with sand, that people sit on in order to either sunbathe – that is,
take in the sun and have it change the color of their skin, at least if they’re light-
skinned like me – or to go swimming. And of course, at beaches, people usually
wear swimming gear or swimwear that reveals their body more than you would
see almost anywhere else.
David says, “Look at her” – pointing to one particular girl – “she’s a hottie!” A
“hottie” (hottie) is someone who’s very beautiful, very sexually attractive. Pamela
says, “Isn’t that what you said about that woman over there?” David says, “No. I
said she’s a babe.” A “babe” (babe) is a beautiful, young, attractive woman. It
really means the same as “hottie.” “Hottie” has a little bit more of a sexual
meaning. “Babe” is always a woman who’s very attractive. It’s a little older word –
it was popular, I think, late 80’s and 90’s, a little less popular now but you’ll still
hear it.
David says, “Look at the way she sways when she walks.” “To sway” (sway)
means to move your body from side to side. And, of course, a woman walking
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down the street may sometimes sway her body naturally from side to side and
men often find that attractive, in the way that a woman might be walking.
Pamela says, “Stop ogling her or her boyfriend or husband is going to come over
here.” “To ogle” (ogle) – which some people might pronounce “oogle” like
“Google,” but “ogle” is the standard pronunciation – means to look at someone,
usually a man looking at a woman, but it could be the other way around, with a
strong sense of sexual attraction. You’re staring at them. You’re looking at them
for what would be considered too long of a period to be polite. It might make the
other person even uncomfortable, the way you are looking at them because you
find them so beautiful, so attractive. That’s why Pam tells David to stop ogling
her. Stop looking at her that way, or if he doesn’t, the woman’s boyfriend or
husband may come over here and, of course, not be very happy that David is
looking at his girlfriend or wife.
David says, “I’m not ogling. I’m admiring the perfection of the female body.” I’m
just admiring the beauty, her physical beauty. Pamela says, “You’re undressing
her with your eyes.” “To undress” means to take your clothes off. It’s the opposite
of “to dress.” “To undress a person” – someone – “with your eyes” means that
you are looking at that person who has clothes on, but you’re imagining them
without their clothes. I think you understand what I’m saying here. That’s what
David is doing according to Pamela. He’s not looking at this woman as some sort
of work of art. He’s looking at her in a very sexual way.
Pamela says, “Avert your gaze before you regret it.” “To avert” (avert) means to
avoid or to turn away. Your “gaze” (gaze) is your look. You’re looking at
someone. You’re gazing at someone. “Avert your gaze,” means to turn your eyes
away from someone. Don’t look at something. We might say this if it’s something
particularly ugly or negative or violent. In this case, we’re saying it to David
because he might get in trouble if he keeps looking at this beautiful woman who
obviously has a man with her.
Then Pamela says, “Oh, wow.” David says, “What?” Pam says, “Check out that
guy over there.” “Check out” here is a two-word, phrasal verb, meaning to look at
and pay attention to someone or something. “Check out this new television
show,” you might say to someone, and show them on your television what you’re
talking about. “Check out that guy” means look at that man over there.
“Guy” usually, in the singular, refers to a man. “Guys” (guys) – plural – can refer
to a group of men or it could refer to a group of men and women. So it depends
on how you use it. A lot of people will say, “Hey guys! How’s it going?” – referring
to both men and women. But if you say, “He’s with a guy,” you mean he’s with a
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ESL Podcast 867 – Talking About Attractive
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man, not a woman. So, “guy,” in the singular, is usually a man. “Guys” can be
men or men and women.
Getting back to the story then, Pamela is looking at some guy – some man – and
she says, “Hello Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.” The expression “tall, dark, and
handsome” describes the perfect man that many women are looking for – a man
who’s tall, a man who has perhaps dark skin and dark eyes – although, of
course, not all women like men with dark skin and dark eyes, fortunately for me,
since I have neither. “Handsome” (handsome) is a way of describing a man
who’s very physically attractive. A good looking man would be described as
“handsome.” We wouldn’t typically use handsome to describe a woman or a girl.
Usually, it’s just for a boy or a man.
David says, “That pretty boy over there? He’s too into himself.” A “pretty boy”
(pretty) boy is a man who takes care of his physical appearance, who probably
spends a lot of time and money on his hair and on his clothing. Some men, of
course, think that other men who do that are somehow too much concerned
about their physical appearance. A real man doesn’t worry about how his hair
looks – that would be the idea. I don’t worry about how my hair looks, for
example. “Pretty boy” is used here, somewhat, as an insult to this man. “He’s too
into himself,” David says. “To be into yourself” means to be very interested in
what you are doing, in your appearance, almost to the point of being very selfish
or self-centered. “I only care about me” – that’s the idea behind this phrase, “to
be into yourself.”
David says, “Look at the way he’s posing so every woman on the beach can get
a look at him.” “To pose” (pose) means, here, to position your body in a particular
way, usually for a photograph so that you appear more beautiful. You may turn
one way or another – turn your face or your head from one side to another. That
would be to pose. This man is posing, according to David, so that all the other
women on the beach can look at him.
He says, “He’s nothing but an exhibitionist.” An “exhibitionist” (exhibitionist) is
someone who wants to be noticed by other people, who does things so that other
people pay attention to him or her. Some people even go so far as to take off part
of their clothing so that other people will notice them. That’s usually the
connection we have to this word. An exhibitionist is often someone who will try to
get other people to pay attention to them by taking their clothes off.
Pamela says, “And the women you’ve been ogling in the teeny tiny bikinis?”
Pamela is saying that the women that David has been looking at are also
exhibitionists because they have “teeny tiny bikinis.” A “bikini” (bikini) is a small,
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“two-piece” we would call it, bathing suit for women. The top part of the bathing
suit goes around a woman’s chest or breasts and the bottom part goes where
she would wear a pair of underwear. “Teeny tiny” means very small. So, these
bikinis are not very big, relative to the women who are wearing them. That is, you
can see a lot of their skin.
David says, “Those women? They’re just showing off what God gave them.” “To
show off” is a two-word, phrasal verb meaning to make something visible to other
people so they can admire it, so they can see how beautiful it is. We can also use
this expression when we tell people things about ourselves that we want to
impress them with. “Oh, I just won a Nobel Prize in literature, didn’t I tell you?”
You are showing off. You are telling other people about your accomplishments or
you’re showing them something physically that you want them to admire. You
want them to say, “Oh, well that’s very beautiful,” or “That’s very impressive.
Congratulations on your Nobel Prize for literature.”
“What God gave someone” is a phrase that we use to describe your natural
abilities or your physical appearance. So when David says that the women are
just showing off what God gave them, he’s saying that the women are just
showing the world the gifts, if you will, that God has given them in creating their
beautiful bodies. I think that’s what David is trying to say here.
Now let’s listen to the dialog, this time, at a normal speed.
[start of dialog]
Pamela: You know that your tongue is hanging out of your mouth, right?
David: That’s because I’ve never seen so many beautiful women in one place
before. Why have I never been to this beach before? Look at her! She’s a
hottie!
Pamela: Isn’t that what you said about that woman over there?
David: No, I said she’s a babe. Look at the way she sways when she walks.
Pamela: Stop ogling her or her boyfriend or husband is going to come over here.
David: I’m not ogling. I’m admiring the perfection of the female body.
Pamela: You’re undressing her with your eyes. Avert your gaze before you
regret it. Oh, wow!
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ESL Podcast 867 – Talking About Attractive
Men and Women
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David: What?
Pamela: Check out that guy over there. Hello, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome!
David: That pretty boy over there? He’s too into himself. Look at the way he’s
posing so every woman on this beach can get a look at him. He’s nothing but an
exhibitionist.
Pamela: And the women you’ve been ogling in the teeny tiny bikinis?
David: Those women? They’re just showing off what God gave them!
[end of dialog]
She never shows off but God did give her a wonderful talent for writing scripts. I
speak of our wonderful scriptwriter, Dr. Lucy Tse. Thank you, Lucy.
From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan, thank you for listening. Come
back and listen to us again right here on ESL Podcast.
English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,
hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. Copyright 2013 by the Center for Educational
Development.