ESL Podcast 499 - Marrying a Gold Digger

boy toy - a young, attractive man whom one dates for fun or for a short period of time, without being very serious about the relationship

Melina really likes to date. She must have had at least 10 boy toys in the past year!

to take the cake - to be the biggest, best, worst, most shocking, or most important thing in a list or series of things

I know you've lied before, but telling him you're single when you're actually married really takes the cake!

age difference - the gap between two people's ages; the number of years between the age of two people

My sister and I have a three-year age difference: I'm 32 and she's 29.

to dress for the part - to wear clothes that are appropriate for what one wants to do, be, or become

If you want to become a vice-president, you should dress for the part. Stop wearing jeans to work and start wearing suits instead.

bling - expensive jewelry and accessories that one wears to get other people's attention and make other people think that one has a lot of money

That dress would look a lot better with some bling, like a nice necklace and some earrings.

to set (someone) back - to cost someone a lot of money

She bought a new piano that set her back almost $2,800.

grand - one thousand dollars; $1,000

He hopes to make 60 grand next year, even though last year he barely made $50,000.

token of (one's) affection - a sign or symbol of one's love and care for another person

During the wedding ceremony, he said, "Please accept this ring as a token of my affection and love" as he put the ring on her finger.

to hold the purse strings - to decide how money is spent, especially in a family or in a business or organization

When we were growing up, our mother held the purse strings and never let us buy anything fun.

to prey on (someone) - to try to control or hurt an animal or person who is weaker than oneself

That preacher preyed on people who were poor and wanted to believe in miracles.

wrapped around (one's) little finger - in control of a person; able to influence what another person does, often because that person is in love with oneself

That child has his parents wrapped around his little finger. They do whatever he asks them to do!

for (one's) sake - for one's own benefit; to help oneself

I really like my daughter's new boyfriend, but I hope she doesn't marry him for my sake. She should marry him only if they really love each other.

gold digger - a person who marries for money; a person who marries another person because he or she is rich

It must be hard for a millionaire to date. How would you know who really loved you, and who just a gold digger and wanted to get your money?

true colors - the way a person really is; the way a person really acts when he or she isn't pretending to be different

When Lilly first started working here, everyone thought she was wonderful, but now we've all seen her true colors and we know that she isn't very nice.

the altar - the small table that a man and a woman stand in front of during their wedding ceremony

Harriet has already been to the altar three times - and she's only 27!

cynic - a person who is very negative and always thinks the worst things possible about other people; a person who never believes that other people are kind or honest

After 30 years of working with criminals as a policeman, he's a cynic who has a hard time trusting other people.

hopeless romantic - a person who wants to fall in love and always believes the best things possible about other people; a person who still believes in love, even if he or she has been hurt many times in the past

Amy is a homeless romantic who still believes she'll find Mr. Right one day.