Speakeasy

Don�t be a wimp!

If someone calls you a wimp, they are definitely not praising you on your heroics. Instead they are telling you how much of a weakling you are. Wimp is slang for someone who is too frightened or not confident enough to do something. In this conversation, Tang is scared to face his opponent. Find out why by practising this week�s conversation. When you are finished, find three synonyms in the conversation that mean the same thing as wimp.

Photograph courtesy of AFP

Tan:    Are you ready to do battle?

Tang: Heck no! Look at that ape. He must be 190 pounds. I can�t possibly win. He�s too big.

Tang: Sure you can. It isn�t size that matters; it�s how you use your head and fists.

Tan:    I don�t care. He�ll clobber me.

Tang: Don�t be a wimp! Get in the ring and fight.

Tan:    I�m no match for him.

Tang: You�re such a chicken. You�re not copping out are you?

Tan:    The thought has crossed my mind.

Tang: Look at how many people there are. You don�t want them to call you a sissy do you?

Tan:    I don�t care. I�m not going to be humiliated and wind up in hospital.

Tang: Don�t be such a wuss. Even if you do get knocked out in the first round you�ll end up making a couple thousand baht.

Tan:    Alright. I�ll fight.

Exercises

1. Why is Tang scared?

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2. Work with a friend to find three synonyms in the story that mean the same as wimp.

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Vocabulary

praise (v): words that show approval of or admiration for somebody or something
heroics (n): actions that are brave and determined
clobber (v): to hit somebody very hard
cop out (phrasal verb): to avoid or stop doing something that you should do because you are afraid, lazy, etc.
humiliate (v): to make somebody feel ashamed or stupid and lose the respect of other people
wind up (phrasal verb): to find yourself in a particular place or situation

Idioms

do battle: to fight or argue with somebody
be a match for somebody: a person who is equal to somebody else in strength, skill, intelligence, etc.
cross my mind: to come into your mind