6 Minute English The meaning of clothes

• Play Pause
• Mute
• 00:00

The meaning of clothes

Do you dress formal or casual? Do you choose trendy items or old comfortable ones? Do we value tradition when deciding what to keep in our wardrobe? Rob and Will talk about the meaning of clothes. Listen to the conversation and learn some new words.

This week's question

What is the maximum length of a sari? Is it ...
a) 12 metres
b) 9 metres
c) 7 metres
You can hear the right answer at the end of the programme.

Vocabulary

scruffy
untidy
out of place
that means unsuitable
dress down
that means dress casually
make snap judgements
make quick decisions
draped
covered
garment
a piece of clothing
ceremonial occasions
special events like weddings
splash of colour
a display of colour
off the top of your head
someone who can't think of something immediately
struggle
to fight and find something difficult
signify
gives themeaning of something

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Rob
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Rob…
Will
… and I'm Will. Hello.
Rob
Hi there, Will. I have to say, I like that shirt you're wearing today. I haven't seen that one before.
Will
Yes, I got it at the weekend. But, to be honest, I don't give my clothes much thought. I just throw on the first thing I see. What about you?
Rob
Well, I try to look presentable. I wouldn't want to appear too scruffy. Clothes say an awful lot about us, don't they Will?
Will
A lot depends on the job you do. In a bank, you're supposed to look pretty smart all the time.
Rob
But if you work for a design company, say, a suit would look out of place – that means unsuitable. People in the creative industries tend to dress down – that means dress casually – you know jeans and t-shirts.
Will
Yes. Then there's the whole question of what to wear to an interview. I reckon if you put on something smart you can't go far wrong.
Rob
Yes. But the meaning of clothes goes far deeper than what you should or shouldn't wear in the workplace, Will. It can really influence what people think of us. Now, rightly or wrongly, they can make snap judgements - or quick decisions - about us.
Will
Yes, you're right. It's a cultural issue. It's about how we see ourselves, too.
Rob
Now, take the sari. It's been around for centuries and is still the main form of dress for millions of women in the Indian subcontinent.
Will
That's that very long garment with all those amazing colours and designs, isn't it? It always looks so elegant.
Rob
Yes, it does. So Will, can you answer this question: what is the maximum length of a sari? Is it ...
a) 12 metres
b) 9 metres
or c) 7 metres
Will
Surely it can't be 12 metres long! I'm going to say 9 metres.
Rob
Okay. Well, we'll find out if you're right or wrong later on. But now let's listen to Dr Shahidha Bari talking about the sari. She uses a word that means "covered". Can you hear what it is?
Dr Shahidha Bari, Queen Mary, University of London
Saris encircle the waist, are often pleated and then swept across the upper body with folds and fabric draped over the shoulder or veiling the head. There are more than 80 different ways of wearing a sari and they've been worn in the Indian subcontinent since the first millennium. It's a garment woven into the histories of the countries from which it comes.
Will
So draped means "covered". Then she used the word garment. That's another word for a piece of clothing. And then she said there are 80 ways of wearing a sari, Rob. Amazing!
Rob
It is, isn't it? Some Asian women in the West wear saris just for ceremonial occasions – that means special events like weddings. I suppose, in a sense, it's not that practical for day-to-day use. But it certainly makes a beautiful splash of colour – or a display of colour - when they do wear it.
Will
What she said has got me thinking about English traditional dress. And, to be honest, Rob, I can't recall anything off the top of my head.
Rob
Off the top of your head, Will? That's because you're not wearing a hat.
Will
Don't be ridiculous, Rob. Off the top of my head. It's an idiom and it means I can't think of anything immediately.
Rob
Yes, Will. I do know that actually. It was my attempt at a joke. But you're right: the British dress sense has become a bit samey (it looks the same) – apart from the fashion industry, which is highly regarded throughout the world.
Will
Well, you wouldn't catch me wearing most of the men's gear you see on the catwalk.
Rob
But, seriously, Will, clothes are undoubtedly an important business. Let's listen to Dr Shahidha Bari again as she reflects on her mother's use of the sari.
Dr Shahidha Bari, Queen Mary, University of London
And yet the sari makes me feel safe too because I associate it with her body and the world she made for me. And now, as I struggle to keep hold of the sari, the rituals and the memories around it, I fear losing the world it signifies – and her, too.
Will
She talked about the way she struggles - that means she finds it difficult - to make the sari important in her life.
Rob
And she uses the word signifies, which means giving the meaning of something. The sari obviously has an emotional attachment for her.
Will
And when you think just how much money people spend on clothes, it shows how vital it is.
Rob
And let's not forget football shirts, Will. Fans want to be seen in their team's latest shirt design, don't they? I know I do.
Will
By the way, what team do you support, Rob?
Rob
Ah, well, it's Chelsea, of course. Come on, you Blues. What about you, Will?
Will
Tottenham Hotspur.
RobNever mind, someone has to. Now, remember at the beginning of the show I asked you: what is the maximum length of a sari? Is it ...
a) 12 metres
b) 9 metres
or c) 7 metres
Will
Yes. And I said 9 metres.
Rob
Well, you know your saris well because that is the right answer. Well done! Now, before we go, it's time to remind ourselves of some of the vocabulary that we've heard today. Will.
Willscruffy
out of place
dress down
make snap judgements
draped
garment
ceremonial occasions
splash of colour
off the top of my head
struggle
signifies
Rob
Thank you, Will. Well, that's the end of today's 6 Minute English.

100 Level Learn english Speaking fast 1 month with Bacitikdaithanh

speaking english practice, speaking english fluently, speaking english fluently in 10 days, speaking english conversation, speaking english fluently tutorial, speaking english practice in india, speaking english practice videos, speaking english course, speaking english with subtitle, speaking english in hindi, speaking english advanced pronunciation, speaking english activity, speaking english at work, speaking english about family, speaking english accent, speaking english at the airport, speaking english australia, speaking english advanced, speaking english american accent, speaking english and khmer, a french speaking english, speaking english basic, speaking english beginner, speaking english british, speaking english bts, speaking english backwards, speaking english badly, speaking english by niharika, speaking english bangla, speaking english - bad habits, speaking english bbc, bobby team b speaking english, block b speaking english, team b speaking english, zico block b speaking english, kyung block b speaking english, jazzy b speaking english, m.i.b speaking english, b.i speaking english, b.a.p speaking english, b.i.g speaking english, speaking english conversation practice, speaking english comedy, speaking english course in bangla, speaking english class, speaking english confidently, speaking english contest, speaking english children, speaking english course in hindi, c clown rome speaking english, c clown speaking english, c.a.p speaking english, c ronaldo speaking english, speaking english dan artinya, speaking english daily, speaking english denis drolet, wooyoung speaking english dream high, g dragon speaking english, danny ahn speaking english, dutch accent speaking english, dara speaking english, d.o speaking english, dilma rousseff speaking english, simon d speaking english, g.o.d speaking english, d.o exo speaking english, d.o speaking english samsung, d.o speaking english 2014, speaking english everyday, speaking english exercises, speaking english easily, speaking english exam, speaking english easy, speaking english english, bts speaking english eng sub, austin powers speaking english english, kai speaking english exo, kris speaking english exo, san e speaking english, e vidyarthi english speaking, e.den lc9 speaking english, speaking english for kids, speaking english fluently and confidently, speaking english funny, speaking english fluently practice, speaking english for beginners, speaking english fluently ielts, speaking english funny videos, f(x) amber speaking english, f(x) speaking english, f(x) sulli speaking english, f(x) luna speaking english, f(x) victoria speaking english, speaking english grammar, speaking english game, 2pm speaking english game, mark speaking english got7, japanese speaking english game show, jackson speaking english got7, kpop speaking english game, german accent speaking english, got7 speaking english, ns yoon g speaking english, tiny g speaking english, g.na speaking english, g dragon speaking english 2014, g.na speaking english to kyuhyun, g.e.m speaking english, g dragon speaking english kcon 2014, speaking english how to answer the phone, speaking english how to say p f b v, speaking english how to say ch & sh, speaking english hindi, speaking english - how to count syllables, lauren speaking english hello baby, tablo speaking english haru, learn english speaking through hindi, hindi to english speaking course full, how learn english speaking, speaking english ielts, speaking english in japan, speaking english ielts test, speaking english in korea, speaking english in france, speaking english in germany, speaking english indonesia, speaking english in quebec, speaking english in canada, speaking english japanese, speaking english japan, shinee speaking english jonghyun, xi jinping speaking english, jackson got7 speaking english, jessica speaking english, super junior speaking english, jay park speaking english, bts jungkook speaking english, bts jin speaking english, may j speaking english, shorry j speaking english, crown j speaking english, lucky j speaking english, j hope speaking english, j balvin speaking english, speaking english khmer, speaking english kpop, speaking english kids, speaking english korean, jyp speaking english kpop star, exo speaking english kai, ailee speaking english korean, nicole speaking english kara, iu speaking english kcon, kai exo k speaking english, exo k speaking english, jun k speaking english, 2pm jun k speaking english, k idols speaking english, k-on speaking english, k will speaking english, k-idols speaking english eng sub, speaking english lesson 1, speaking english like a native speaker, speaking english learning, speaking english lesson, speaking english like an american, speaking english language, speaking english learning videos, speaking english lessons for beginners, speaking english lesson in hindi.english grammar.spoken english-fluent and confident lvl 1 lesson 5-a, speaking english lectures, infinite l speaking english, l.joe speaking english, l.joe speaking english weekly idol, speaking english muet, speaking english movies, speaking english malayalam, scottish people speaking english maybe, messi speaking english, angela merkel speaking english, kiko mizuhara speaking english, martina stoessel speaking english, wow mali english speaking kariton, got7 mark speaking english, luhan exo m speaking english, exo m speaking english, b m english speaking, speaking english naturally, speaking english niharika, speaking english news, aron speaking english nu'est, nichkhun speaking english, neymar speaking english, nepali actress speaking english, lets talk english speaking niharika, norwegian accent speaking english, nadech kugimiya speaking english, vixx n speaking english, speaking english online, speaking english on phone, bts speaking english on plane, online english speaking course free, english lectures on speaking, oxford english speaking course, onew speaking english, speaking old english, ok taecyeon speaking english, exo d.o speaking english, exo d.o speaking english compilation, mblaq g.o speaking english, speaking english practice for beginners, speaking english practice in hindi, speaking english practice with subtitle, speaking english practice for kids, speaking english practice ielts, speaking english practice toefl, speaking english practice in india in hindi, t.o.p speaking english, t.o.p speaking english interview, t.o.p speaking english 2014, p j joseph speaking english, english speaking p, speaking english quickly, queen letizia speaking english, queen maxima speaking english, queen beatrix speaking english, sultan qaboos speaking english, queen silvia speaking english, queen mathilde speaking english, queen sirikit speaking english, queen sofia speaking english, quebecois speaking english, speaking english ronnie, wendy speaking english red velvet, park bom speaking english roommate, exo speaking english ranking, roy kim speaking english, cristiano ronaldo speaking english, ronaldo speaking english, rain speaking english, russian speaking english, red velvet speaking english, t r speaking english, speaking english slowly, speaking english skill, speaking english subtitles, speaking english story, speaking english song, practice speaking english skills, learn english speaking english subtitles, henry speaking english super junior, exo speaking english sehun, improve english speaking skills, speaking english, speaking english tutorial, speaking english topics, speaking english tips, speaking english to strangers, speaking english test, speaking english to koreans, speaking english to japanese, speaking english to foreigners, speaking english to bangla, speaking english to russians, zion t speaking english, t-ara speaking english, t rajendar speaking english, t-ara dani speaking english, t s madaan english speaking, speaking english uk, speaking english usa, speaking english urdu, uk english speaking practice, urdu to english speaking course full, u kiss speaking english, usa english speaking practice, english urdu speaking course, us english speaking practice, urassaya sperbund speaking english, u kiss jun speaking english, u kiss aj speaking english, u kiss kevin speaking english, u kiss eli speaking english, u kiss dongho speaking english, u-know yunho speaking english, u kiss alexander speaking english, speaking english video, speaking english very fast, speaking english vocabulary, speaking english video in hindi, how to speaking english very well, funny speaking english video, learning speaking english video, vijaykanth english speaking comedy, vladimir putin speaking english, british english speaking videos, v speaking english bts, bangtan boys v speaking english, bangtan v speaking english, v s achuthanandan speaking english, speaking english with a spanish accent, speaking english with american accent, speaking english with a german accent, speaking english with russian accent, speaking english with confidence, speaking english with strangers, speaking english with misterduncan, speaking english with text, speaking english with british accent, exo speaking english xiumin, xiumin speaking english, xavi speaking english, xabi alonso speaking english, ximena duque speaking english, xiah junsu speaking english, bo xilai speaking english, xi jinping speaking english in india, amber f(x) speaking english, winner speaking english yg, bobby speaking english yg, yoochun speaking english, yuki furukawa speaking english, gong yoo speaking english, aaron yan speaking english, yong hwa speaking english, yoona speaking english, joon young speaking english, park yoochun speaking english, zhoumi speaking english, zelo speaking english, zico speaking english, jiang zemin speaking english, zea kevin speaking english, zidane speaking english, zlatan ibrahimovic speaking english, bap zelo speaking english, zhao wei speaking english, momoiro clover z speaking english, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 01, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 02, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 05, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 03, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 04, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 09, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 06, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 08, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 07, learn english speaking lesson 01, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 11, english speaking practice title 1, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 12, english conversation - learn english speaking - part 10, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 10, 15& speaking english, jimin 15& speaking english, 1tym teddy speaking english, top 10 english speaking countries, english speaking part 1, english speaking practice lesson 1, learn english speaking 1, english speaking practice 1, english speaking english conversation lesson 1, english speaking practice part 1, english speaking class 1, english speaking for grade 1, tiffany speaking english 2014, jessica speaking english 2014, taeyang speaking english 2014, tablo speaking english 2014, gd speaking english 2014, 2ne1 speaking english 2014, rain speaking english 2014, neymar speaking english 2014, tiffany snsd speaking english 2014, hassan 2 speaking english, invincible youth 2 speaking english, roommate season 2 speaking english, english speaking practice title 2, english speaking lesson 2, 2pm speaking english, learn english speaking 2, english speaking practice title 3, 30 days english speaking course, sims 3 speaking english, english speaking lesson 3, english conversation - learn english speaking lesson 30, 4minute speaking english, english speaking practice title 4, the sims 4 speaking english, learn english speaking 4, english speaking practice 4, english speaking lesson 4, 4 minute speaking english, english speaking practice title 5, 5zic speaking english, english speaking practice 5, english speaking practice title 6, english speaking lesson 6, english speaking practice title 7, english speaking 7 rules, speaking english subtitle part 7, english speaking practice title 8, 9muses sera speaking english, english speaking practice title 9, 96neko speaking english, 9 muses sera speaking english, english speaking practice title 10, learn english speaking 10