Unit 2 - Fame and fortune

27/03
 Vocabulary:
gossip columnist: an article that appears regularly in
a newspaper or magazine and gives details of the private lives of famous people.
Someone who writes a gossip column is called a gossip columnist.
Anti-climax:
something that is not as exciting as you expected it to be so that you feel disappointed

The day had proved something of an anti-climax.

Reclusive: living alone and avoiding going outside or talking to other people

Skin deep: a skin-deep quality or feeling is not as strong or important as it seems or as
someone wants it to appear
Sue (for): to make a legal claim against someone, usually to get money from them
because they have done something bad to you. The legal claim is called a lawsuit
Libel: a piece of writing that contains bad and false things about a person:
Adamant: impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision:
Grief: a strong feeling of sadness, usually because someone has died
Rags-to-riches: used to describe what happens to a person who
was poor but becomes rich:
Hey presto: said when someone or something changes so quickly that it
seems like magic
Budding: at the very beginning of a career in writing, acting, politics etc and likely to
be successful at it
Pitch a script: to present an idea to directors and movie corporations
Unknown wannabe: someone who is not famous, but it would like it to be
Movers and shakers: important and influential people
Spec:  specification (= a detailed description of how something should be or has been
done, made, etc.)

 Expressions:
That’s not to say (that): used for adding a statement that corrects what you
have just said or makes it less definite

So far, no one’s been sacked, but that’s not to say it won’t happen.

It’s worth remembering

 Time sequencers:
As soon as I saw him, I knew.
By the time I realized she was the killer, she had disappeared.
We’d met somewhere before
This time next week, I'll be in Berlin
To this day, I see his face. (from then until the present)
Prior to seeing him in the flesh,…(before)
Ten years back, I’d met him.(ago)
28/03 Discussing a celebrity activism
Roll up their sleeves: prepare to work
Eminent: very famous or distinguish in a field
Faux pas: mistake
Cast aside: to get rid of someone or something because it is
no longer interesting or valuable to you
A shot in the arm: an encouraging stimulus.
29/3 Criticizing a celebrity
Gambler: someone who is ready to take risks in order to be more successful
Biased: preferring one person, thing, or idea to another in a way that is unfair/
having a special interest in a particular thing
Bandwagon: an idea or activity, especially in politics or business,
that suddenly becomes very popular or fashionable, so that a lot of people want to
be involved in it
jump on/climb on/join the bandwagon: Every business was  trying to jump on the ‘dot-
com’ bandwagon.
Flagging: becoming weaker, more tired, or less enthusiastic
Pious: done or said with the intention of seeming religious and moral
Crass: stupid and offensive because of not being sensitive to other people’s feelings
Crave: to want something very much and in a way that is very hard to control
Savvy: the ability to understand and judge people and situations well
Nourish: If you nourish a feeling, belief, or plan, you think about it a lot
and encourage it
Champion a cause: someone
who publicly supports or defends a set of beliefs, political aims, or a group of people
Mourn the loss of someone
Conceited: someone who is conceited behaves in a way that shows they think they are
very intelligent, skilful, or attractive. This word shows that you do
not like people like this. (syn: arrogant)
One thing is beyond question

 Critizing others:
I don't want to bad-mouth anyone, but this seems like a publicity stunt.
I'd like to give him a piece of my mind.
I'm sick and tired of him always going on about his work.
Not to put too fine a point on it, he has no business endorsing that product. (I will not
avoid stating my opinion)
What right does he think he has to tell us to donate money?
Such double standards! It's do as I say, not do as I do! (He doesn’t back up his words
with similar actions)
She needs taking down a peg or two. (She has become too arrogant)
Please don't bad-mouth John. I like him.
 Reading 2:
Gasp in wonder: to breathe in suddenly, for example because you
are surprised, shocked, or in pain
29/3 Homes
 Evaluating homes:
-Hideous: very ugly or frightening in appearance
-Dreadful: very unpleasant
-Tacky: por quality or bad taste
-Grand: very impressive
-Appalling: very unpleasant or shocking
-Timeless: not affected by time or by changes in fashion