Clothes

Now, the VOA Special English program

WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

Last week, I explained

some English expressions about clothes.

Everything I told you was true.

I did not talk through my hat

or say something

without knowing the facts.

Everyone knows there are

many English expressions

about clothes.

There is no need to keep it a secret,

or keep it under your hat.

In fact, if I keep talking,

soon enough you will start

to think I am an old hat about this

-- a real expert.

Do not be fooled, though.

My friends sometimes call me

a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

This is someone who acts

like a good person,

but is really a bad person.

I’m not really a bad person.

But I do love clothes.

It is always fun to get dressed up.

I look great in my best clothes.

When I put them on,

I feel decked out.

You might say

when I wear my best clothes,

I am dressed to the nines

or dressed to the teeth.

In fact, my husband says

I look dressed to kill.

Of course, I would never kill anyone.

But, there is something special

about putting on clothes

that are pleasing to the eye.

My best clothes are not

modern or fashionable.

Maybe someday they will

come into fashion.

But I really do not care.

They certainly look better

on me than my birthday suit.

Did you know that everyone

has a birthday suit?

You wear it when you are wearing

no clothes at all.

Babies are born wearing

their birthday suits.

I am very careful with my clothes.

I handle them with kid gloves.

I try not to get them dirty or torn.

Most of my clothes

fit like a glove.

They fit perfectly.

But when I eat too much,

I feel like my clothes might

burst at the seams.

My clothes feel too restrictive and tight.

Some of the clothes I like best

are hand-me-downs.

My older sister gave them to me

when she no longer wanted them.

Hand-me-downs are great

because clothes often cost too much money.

I live on a shoestring.

I have a very small budget

and little money to spend on clothes.

However, my sister has a lot of money

to spend on clothes.

Maybe someday the shoe

will be on the other foot.

The opposite will be true.

I will have a lot of money

to buy clothes and my sister

will get hand-me-downs from me.

I admit I dream of being rich.

I dream that someday I will be able

to live like a rich person.

I will know what it is like

to walk in another person’s shoes.

Some of my friends got rich

by riding someone else’s coat tails.

They are successful today

as a result of someone else

being successful.

But, I believe you should

never criticize others

for something

you would do yourself.

What is said about someone

else can also be said

about you. Remember,

if the shoe fits, wear it.

(MUSIC)

Jill Moss wrote this

VOA Special English program

WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

I’m Faith Lapidus.