What would you expect to see at a car boot sale? If you’re thinking of boots in a car, you’d be wrong! Also, we’ll give you a first-hand account of second-hand shops in this podcast episode.
Voice message from Joshua from Brazil
When I’m on the road / When I hit the road
I used to (usually) listen to your podcast while I’m driving
Car boot sales (the boot of a car is a ‘trunk’ in American English)
Have you ever been to a car boot sale, either as a buyer or seller?
Second-hand shop (UK) – thrift store (US)
Second-hand – used to describe something for sale that it is not new
Vocabulary
Flea market – an outdoor market where people sell second-hand or inexpensive goods.
Charity shop – a shop owned by a charity that raises money from the sale of second-hand clothes and items
Swap meet – another name for a flea market (more common in the western U.S.).
Yard sale – selling unwanted items in front of your house, usually on the lawn.
Garage sale – similar to a yard sale, but held in or near the garage.
Hand-me-downs – clothes passed on from one person (usually family) to another.
Vintage – old, but stylish and desirable.
Antique – an old object, often valuable or collectible.
Collectibles – items that people collect, like toys, coins, or stamps.
Trinket – small ornament or piece of jewellery of little value
Knick-knacks – small decorative objects, often cheap or quirky.
Bric-a-brac/Odds and ends/Bits and pieces – a miscellaneous mixture of small objects of little value
Junk – unwanted or low-value items (sometimes used negatively).
To haggle – to bargain or negotiate over price.
To bargain hunt – to look for the best deals or lowest prices.
To get a bargain – to buy something for much less than it’s worth.
To dig through – to search through boxes or piles of second-hand items.
To rummage – to search in a careless or busy way through items.
To come across something – to find something of interest by chance
Almost new – an expression us ed to describe a second-hand item in very good condition, though not brand new
Hidden gem – something valuable or special found unexpectedly.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – saying that what one person doesn’t want, another might
Discussion
Why do you think second-hand shopping has become more popular in recent years, especially among young people?
Why are charity shops much more popular in the UK than many other countries, such as Spain?
What is the appeal of “vintage” stores? After all, the items for sale are old and dated. Why not buy something new and trendy?
Some people see second-hand items as “cheap” while others see them as “sustainable” or “stylish.” What do you think influences these different attitudes?
…and now it’s your turn to practise your English.
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In next week’s episode: Uses of light
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The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’