UnknownThis week's question
What's the name for someone who loves beards? Is it...
a) barbophile?
b) pogonophile?
c) pelophile?
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
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Vocabulary
al the rage
very fashionable
get on a bandwagon
join other people in doing something that has become popular - perhaps because you hope to become popular yourself
talking point
subject that a lot of people are discussing
competitive advantage
when a condition or circumstance puts you in a favourable position clean shaven
having no facial hair
peaked
reached its highest point - and wil decline from this point sport
wear
flamboyant
eye catching and different
feminism
women's struggle to achieve the same rights as men women's lib
women's liberation movement (similar to feminism) testosterone
the main male hormone
melanoma
a serious type of skin cancer
on board from the get go
involvement with something right from the start Transcript
Rob
Hel o and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Rob…
Neil
… and I'm Neil. Hel o.
Rob
Hi there, Neil! Now, Neil... what's that on your face?
Neil
What… this? It's a beard, Rob. Have you never seen one before?
Rob
I have. But I've never seen one on you before… and I'm surprised to say, it looks good on you!
Neil
Wel , thank you! I thought I'd get on the beard bandwagon, you know. Beards are al the rage at the moment - that means 'very fashionable'.
Rob
And to get on a bandwagon is when you join other people in doing something that has become popular – perhaps because you hope to become popular yourself!
Neil
Wel , that doesn't apply to me, Rob, because, as you know, I'm very popular already.
Rob
Yes. Yes, I know that, of course... Anyway, beards are such a talking point – a subject that a lot of people are discussing – that we decided to talk about them on today's programme! So are you ready for today's question, Neil? What's the name for someone who loves beards?
Is it…
a) barbophile?
b) pogonophile?
or c) pelophile?
Neil
Hmm. Al the answers sound tempting. But I’m going to go for a) barbophile.
Rob
Right. OK, wel we'l find out if you're right or wrong later on. But this is interesting: a new scientific study suggests that the more beards there are in a population, the less attractive they become – and this currently gives clean-shaven men a competitive advantage.