Objective Proficiency p 76. Onesies. Extra CLoze

 

Would YOU dare to wear the romper suit for grown-ups? How did CHARLOTTE KEMP's family fare when they spent a day out wearing 'onesies'?

Romper suit: a piece of clothing worn by a baby, that covers the body and legs.
Onesie™ /ˈwʌnzi/ a piece of clothing for babies that covers the top half of the body and sometimes also the legs. It fastens between the legs. 

Fill in the gaps with ONE word 

The woman behind the make-up counter at Chanel is giving me a bemused (1)_________ — or is it one of utter disdain? I have just asked her if she can suggest a lipstick to complement my outfit and she is momentarily (2)__________ for words.
The outfit in (3)____________ is, it has to be said, the opposite of elegant or understated. It’s a garish all-in-one from River Island. A riot of pink, peach, sky blue and green.
This unflattering garment, known as a ‘onesie’, is one of autumn’s more bizarre (4)________ and, to be honest, I can’t believe I am wearing it outside the house. 
But following in the (5)___________ of various celebrities, I’ve taken the onesie out onto the streets with my three daughters.
Even my husband, Tom, is trying one on for (6)_______ later. Yes, they make onesies for men, too.
If you are (7)______ to encounter one of these ludicrous garments, then think of a Babygro, add a hood, supersize it and you get the idea. Ridiculous (8)_________  they sound, they’re on sale across the High Street and the recent (9)________ snap has resulted in a surge (10)______ sales.
Teenagers love them, apparently. So do children. My daughters have been nagging me (11)______ buy them one for weeks. But I’m yet to be convinced that the adult version should be worn in public by anyone, let (12)__________ a 40-year-old mum like me.

Mutton dressed as (13)_______ doesn’t even cover it. It’s just unseemly. I feel ridiculously exposed. Because it is (14)_______ at the waist, I feel as though my trousers have fallen down.
Don’t get me wrong. Unflattering though it may be, a full-sized romper is certain to come in handy on cold, wintry evenings. We live in a freezing cold house and I can imagine (15)__________ up with the girls — all of us zipped up snug in onesies — to watch a film. Venturing out into the big, wide world, however, is another matter.

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KEY
1. look/ smile/ expression (Bemused: /bɪˈmjuːzd/ showing that you are confused and unable to think clearly.  Bewildered, puzzled. Sp. desconcertado, perplejo. E.g.a bemused expression/ smile. She looked somewhat shaken and bemused by what had happened. Her bemused expression. He was bemused by what was happening.



2. lost (be lost for words to be so surprised, confused or upset that you do not know what to say. E.g. Sarah was now totally lost for words)




3. question

understated /ˌʌndəˈsteɪtɪd/ if a style, colour, etc. is understated, it is pleasing and elegant in a way that is not too obvious. Sp. sencillo, discreto. E.g. understated elegance. He's very understated and goes about his work on the field with great intensity and skill. The effect is a little like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, very understated, just the names.

garish: /ˈɡeərɪʃ/ very brightly coloured in an unpleasant way. Sp. chillón, llamativo. E.g. garish clothes/colours. It's a little too garish for my taste.

peach: a pinkish-orange colour 

unflattering: /ʌnˈflætərɪŋ/ making somebody/something seem worse or less attractive than they really are. Sp. poco favorecedor. E.g. an unflattering dress. Unflattering comments.

bizarre: /bɪˈzɑː(r)/ very strange or unusual. Weird. E:g. a bizarre situation/incident/story. Bizarre behaviour.



4. trends/ tendencies 



5. footsteps (follow in somebody's footsteps: to do the same job, have the same style of life, etc. as somebody else, especially somebody in your family. E.g. She works in television, following in her father's footsteps.




6. size (try for size: (to see if it is the correct size). E.g. Try this one for size.)



7. yet

ludicrous: /ˈluːdɪkrəs/ unreasonable; that you cannot take seriously. Absurd, ridiculous. E.g. a ludicrous suggestion. It was ludicrous to think that the plan could succeed. He is paid a ludicrous amount of money. Ludicrously (adv) /ˈluːdɪkrəsli/ E.g. ludicrously expensive.

Babygro: /ˈbeɪbiɡrəʊ/ (noun™) plural Babygros. A piece of clothing for babies, usually covering the whole body except the head and hands, made of a type of cloth that stretches easily.

supersize (somebody/something) to make somebody/something bigger; to become bigger. E.g. We are being supersized into obesity (= made very fat) by the fast food industry. TV ads encourage kids to supersize. 



8. though 



9. cold (cold snap: a sudden short period of very cold weather) 



10. in/ of (surge: a sudden increase in the amount or number of something. Sp. repentino aumento. Surge (in something) a surge in consumer spending. We are having trouble keeping up with the recent surge in demand. Surge (of something) After an initial surge of interest, there has been little call for our services.) 



11. to (nag to keep complaining to somebody about their behaviour or keep asking them to do something. Sp. dar la lata. E.g. nag (at somebody) Stop nagging—I'll do it as soon as I can. Nag somebody (to do something) She had been nagging him to paint the fence.)



12. alone (let alone used after a statement to emphasize that because the first thing is not true or possible, the next thing cannot be true or possible either. Sp. no digamos. E.g. There isn't enough room for us, let alone any guests.I didn't have any clothes, let alone a passport.



13. lamb (mutton /ˈmʌtn/ dressed as lamb (British English, informal, disapproving) used to describe a woman who is trying to look younger than she really is, especially by wearing clothes that are designed for young people )

cover: include

unseemly: /ʌnˈsiːmli/ (of behaviour, etc.) not polite or suitable for a particular situation. Improper.



14. loose



15. snuggling (snuggle: /ˈsnʌɡl/ to get into, or to put somebody/something into, a warm comfortable position, especially close to somebody. Sp. acurrucarse. E.g. The child snuggled up to her mother.)

zip (up/together) to be fastened with a zip/zipper. E.g. The sleeping bags can zip together.

Snug: /snʌɡ / warm, comfortable and protected, especially from the cold. Cosy. Sp. cómodo y caliente. E.g. I spent the afternoon snug and warm in bed.  

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