ESL Podcast 898 - People of Different Ages
-something - approximately; an informal suffix place on words to indicate vagueness or uncertainly, especially when talking about ages
William has accomplished a lot in his career, especially for a forty-something.
toddler - a young child who has recently learned how to walk, usually 1-3 years old
It's hard to keep an eye on toddlers because they like to run around.
infant - a baby who is not walking yet, especially less than one year old *Alan fell in love the moment the nurse placed the infant in his arms.
senior - an old person, especially someone who is retired
Many restaurants have special menus items at lower prices for seniors.
mid- - in the middle of something, not the biggest or smallest, not the greatest or least, but somewhere in between
They want to buy a mid-sized sedan.
late- - toward the end of a range, especially when talking about dates or ages; in the latter end of a range
Computer technology developed rapidly in the late 1990s.
spry - with a lot of energy; lively and active, moving around
I wish the animals at the zoo were a little more spry, but most of the ones we saw were just sleeping.
middle-aged - in the middle of an average lifespan, usually 45-64 years old, not young or old
Middle-aged managers sometimes struggle to communicate clearly with younger employees.
tween - a person who is between childhood and adolescence, usually 9-12 years old, especially when referring to girls
The new fashions for tweens try to make them look older than they really are.
teenage - related to a teenager, a person who is 13-19 years old
The middle school teachers are complaining that their teenage students are more interested in each other than in their studies.
handful - a lot of work; something that is difficult and challenging
When Hannah walked into the grocery store with her three young children, she heard someone say, "Shopping with them must be a handful!"
early- - toward the beginning of a range, especially when talking about dates or ages
What has been the most important invention in the early-21st century? -ish - approximately; an informal suffix place on words to indicate vagueness or uncertainty; somewhat
That was an insightful-ish comment for someone her age.
to size up - to assess and evaluate someone or something, especially just by looking at the person or thing and especially when comparing or rating against others
Pete spent the first few minutes of the negotiations sizing up the other people before he chose his approach.
young adult - a person who is no longer a teenager, but not yet middle-aged, approximately 18-30 years old
It is so important for young adults to travel and explore the world before they settle down and get married.
sightseeing - the act of visiting sites in a particular area as a tourist, exploring them briefly and learning basic information about them
Anyone who goes sightseeing in New York City has to visit the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.