Drawbacks of consumer society
To take advantage of smth prep
to be enslaved to brands PREP
fashion victim TERM
shallow-minded
brand junkie TERM
to join the hordes of lookalikes COL
group/individual identity
to conform / conformity WF
to lack personality and individuality COL
major concern COL
a crisis of parenting / irresponsible parenting COL
overburdened WF
persistent pestering COL = continous
To come to some alarming conclusions PREP
low self-esteem COL
be susceptible to brand messages PREP
to equate ownership with improved status PREP
obesity problem /obese person WF
brand lust = desire to have brands COL
to make smb feel insecure COL
shopaholism/compulsive shopping COL
to lead to depression PREP
to be ostracized / to ostracize = to be separated from others
to be outcast from the group PREP
to put on (weight) PHR
commercialisation SP
without consent = to do smth without somebody’s consent means without this person’s agreement
New Idioms
to live from hand to mouth = to have just enough money to live on and nothing extra My father earned very little and there were four of us kids so we lived from hand to mouth.
to make ends meet = to earn and spend equal amounts of money. (Usually in reference to a living with little money after basic expenses.) I have to work at two jobs to make ends meet.
to be broke = to have no money (usually to participate in some group activity). I'm afraid I can't come, I'm broke.
not have a penny to your name = to be very poor
to live on a shoestring = with very little money
to feel the pinch = to have problems with money because you are earning less than before When my father lost his job and we had to live on my mother's earnings, we really started to feel the pinch.
money doesn’t grow on trees = you should be careful how much money you spend because there is only a limited amount 'Dad, can I have a new bike?' 'We can't afford one. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.'
to be born with a silver spoon in one’s month = to be born wealthy
to foot the bill = to pay for something; to pay for a bill.
dirt cheap = very cheap
for a song = cheaply. (Typically: buy something ~; get something ~; pick up someone ~.) I could buy this house for a song, because it's so ugly.
daylight robbery = unfairly priced (same as a rip off)
to keep one’s wits about one = To remain alert or calm, especially in a crisis
Phrasal Verbs with Definitions
contribute money = chip in
spend = fork out
share smth among a number of people = divide up
start = set out
record the purchase through a cash register = ring up
to search for = look for
to test = try out
distribute papers, flyers= hand out
fix posters on the wall = put up
to pretend to be something else / to wear a masquerade costume = to be dressed up (as smb)
become heavier= put on weight
make (improvements, changes) happen = bring about
stop using = give up, turn away from
calculate= tally up
support= stand for
upset, annoy = get to smb
is contrary to= go agaisnt