ESL Podcast 514 – Describing Old and New Clothes

Ellen: What are you wearing to the party?

Hiro: Your guess is as good as mine.

Ellen: Let’s look through your closet and I’ll help you pick something out.

Hiro: Okay, but I have to warn you. I have a pretty limited wardrobe.

Ellen: Let’s see, these black pants are nice, but they’re frayed¹ on the bottom. How about these jeans?

Hiro: You don’t think they’re too faded? There’s also a rip in the back.

Ellen: No, I guess those jeans won’t work. I like this shirt, though.

Hiro: Did you see the stain on the front? The zipper² is also stuck, I think.

Ellen: How about shoes? Do you have any shoes that are presentable?

Hiro: Well, I always wear these, but they’re scuffed³ on the top and the sole is pretty worn.

Ellen: Okay, desperate times call for desperate measures. Come on!

Hiro: Where are we going?

Ellen: We’re going to a magical place with brand spanking⁴ new clothes and where everything is flawless.

Hiro: Where’s that?

Ellen: The mall!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 frayed   

adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His shirt was frayed. 他的衬衫穿破了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The argument frayed their nerves. 争辩使他们不快。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 zipper   

n.拉链；v.拉上拉链

参考例句：

• The zipper is red.这条拉链是红色的。
• The zipper is a wonderful invention.拉链是个了不起的发明。

3 scuffed   

v.使磨损( scuff的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚走

参考例句：

• I scuffed the heel of my shoe on the stonework. 我的鞋跟儿给铺好的石头磨坏了。
• Polly dropped her head and scuffed her feet. 波莉低下头拖着脚走开了。 来自辞典例句

4 spanking   

adj.强烈的，疾行的；n.打屁股

参考例句：

• The boat is spanking along on the river.船在小河疾驶。
• He heard a horse approaching at a spanking trot.他听到一匹马正在疾步驰近。