My family is not like many modern ones since it still 1__________ the tradition of large family meals. We always follow the same pattern of long phone calls weeks ahead of the occasion to 2_________ distant cousins and elderly aunts. The preparation of so much food is 3_________________ for the host family members concerned.
On the day of the meal, we 4_____________ our well-established roles, 5____________ all that is served and expressing the joy and 6________________ that convention demands.
As soon as we have drunk some wine, the 7____________________ dishes gives way to another, more sinister part of the ritual: 8____________ comments on family members who are not there, the 9___________ of ancient 10____________ and 11__________ family rivalries. Then we have debates on politics and the world 12____________. We don't physically fight, but the verbal gloves are certainly off at this late stage in the 13_____________. As soon as a heated argument breaks out the host hurries away to prepare coffee, 14____________ chocolates and 15__________ of ice-cold water, in a 16_____________ attempt to restore calm. At this moment all hostilities stop and therefore peace 17______________. After his second cup of coffee, 18______________ a final blessing to the assembled group, the most senior member takes his 19________, signalling that it is time for others to do the same. Another memorable family occasion 20________________.
KEY
1. holds to
hold to: refuse to abandon or change (a principle or opinion). E.g. those who held to the view that Britain should not be part of the Common Market. My family holds to the tradition of large family meals.
2. mobilise (also mobilize) /ˈməʊbəlaɪz/ organize and encourage (a group of people) to take collective action in pursuit of a particular objective. E.g. it would be hard for worker representatives to mobilize the workforce against the employers.
3. stress-inducing
induce something to cause something. E.g. drugs which induce sleep.
4. slip into
Slip into: 1. to pass into a particular state or situation. E.g. He began to slip into debt.The patient had slipped into a coma. 2. To put clothes on. E.g. To slip into/out of a dress. When I get home I will slip into my onesie.
5. devouring
devour: /dɪˈvaʊə(r)/
gobble:
to eat something very fast, in a way that people consider rude or greedy. Wolf. E.g. gobble (something) Don't gobble your food like that! gobble something up/down They gobbled down all the sandwiches. He gobbled up the last of the chocolates.
savour something
to enjoy the full taste or flavour of something, especially by eating or drinking it slowly. E.g. He ate his meal slowly, savouring every mouthful.
6. contentment /kənˈtentmənt/ a feeling of happiness or satisfaction. E.g. He has found contentment at last. E.g. a sigh of contentment
contempt:
/kənˈtempt/ the feeling that somebody/something is without value and deserves no respect at all. E.g. She looked at him with contempt. I shall treat that suggestion with the contempt it deserves. His treatment of his children is beneath contempt (= so unacceptable that it is not even worth feeling contempt for). Politicians seem to be generally held in contempt by ordinary people. contempt for somebody/something They had shown a contempt for the values she thought important.
contemptuous /kənˈtemptʃuəs/ feeling or showing that you have no respect for somebody/something. She gave him a contemptuous look. The company has shown a contemptuous disregard for Henry’s complaints. contemptuous of somebody/something He was contemptuous of everything I did.
contemptible: /kənˈtemptəbl/ not deserving any respect at all. Despicable. E.g. contemptible behaviour
7. praise of succulent
praise: /preɪz/ to express your approval or admiration for somebody/something.
succulent: /ˈsʌkjələnt/ containing a lot of juice and tasting good. E.g. a succulent pear/steak
give way to something: to be replaced by something. E.g. The storm gave way to bright sunshine. As he drew nearer, his anxiety gave way to relief.
8. snide
Snide: /snaɪd/ criticizing somebody/something in an unkind and indirect way. Sp. Malicioso. E.g. Snide comments/remarks. Adv. snidely.
bad-mouth: /ˈbæd maʊθ/
bad-mouth somebody (informal) to say unpleasant things about somebody. E.g. No one wants to employ somebody who bad-mouths their former employer.
9. surfacing
Surfacing: /ˈsɜːf ɪs ɪŋ/ sudden appearance after having been hidden for a while. Emergence. E.g. The surfacing of ancient grudges and petty family rivalries.
10. grudges
Grudge: /ɡrʌdʒ/ a feeling of anger or dislike towards somebody because of something bad they have done to you in the past. Rencor E.g. I bear him no grudge. He has a grudge against the world. She has harboured a grudge against me for years. I don't hold any grudges now.
11. petty: /ˈpeti/ small and unimportant. E.g. petty crime/theft (= that is not very serious).
Rivalry: /ˈraɪvlri/ plural: rivalries.
12.at large: (used after a noun) as a whole; in general. E.g. The opinion of the public at large.
13. proceedings
proceedings [plural] an event or a series of actions. E.g. The Mayor will open the proceedings at the City Hall tomorrow. We watched the proceedings from the balcony.
14. hunting out
Hunt sth out/down: to search for something until you find it. E.g. We hunted down their phone number and gave them a call. I hunted out my old school photos to show Mary.
15. jugs
Jug: /dʒʌɡ/ a container with a handle and a lip, for holding and pouring liquids. Jarra. E.g. A milk/water jug.
pitcher /ˈpɪtʃə(r)/ (North American English) (British English jug) a container with a handle and a lip, for holding and pouring liquids. E.g. a pitcher of water
16. valiant: /ˈvæliənt/ very brave or determined. E.g. Valiant warriors. She made a valiant attempt not to laugh.
17. prevails
Prevail: /prɪˈveɪl/ to be accepted, especially after a struggle or an argument. Triumph. E.g. Justice will prevail over tyranny. Fortunately, common sense prevailed.
18. handing down
Hand down: announce something. To officially give a decision/statement, etc. Sp. Transmitir. E.g. The judge has handed down his verdict.
19. leave
Take (your) leave (of somebody): (formal) to say goodbye. E.g. With a nod and a smile, she took leave of her friends.
20. draws to a close
Draw + adverb/preposition: to move in the direction mentioned. E.g. The train drew into the station. (Figurative) The meeting was drawing to a close.
Transcript
Unlike many modern families, mine still holds to the tradition of large family meals at times of celebration or crisis. I use the word ‘large’ of both the group and the amount of food on offer. The pattern is always the same: endless phone calls weeks ahead of the occasion to mobilise distant cousins and elderly aunts; on the eve of the event, the preparation of excessive amounts of food by the host family member, which never fails to be stress-inducing for all concerned; and then, on the day itself, we slip into our well-established roles, devouring all that is set before us and expressing the joy and contentment that convention demands. Once the wine has started to flow, the praise of succulent dishes gives way to another, more sinister part of the ritual: snide comments on family members not present, the surfacing of ancient grudges and petty family rivalries. This in turn leads to the more general but equally predictable debates on politics and the world at large. Manners always prevent us from actual bodily assault, but the verbal gloves are certainly off at this late stage in the proceedings. As the insults start to fly, the host hurries away to prepare coffee, hunting out chocolates and jugs of ice-cold water, in a valiant attempt to restore calm. Ritual behaviour dictates that all hostilities cease at this point and so, finally, peace prevails. After his second cup of coffee, handing down a final blessing to the assembled group, the most senior member takes his leave, signalling that it is time for others to do the same. Another memorable family occasion draws to a close.
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