Hi Jessica,

Guess who I bumped into the other day! Our old college mate, Rob Parsons! First thing I noticed was he’s really bulked up (he used to be so lean and wiry, didn’t he?) but also that he still looks so unkempt. His sister was always the opposite — never a hair out of place and immaculate clothes, remember? But they were different in appearance too, weren’t they? He has a rather swarthy complexion: his sister’s was more sallow. I must say he looked a bit haggard and exhausted too. He’s probably working too hard. Anyway, how are things with you?

Beth

• bulked /bʌlkt/ up (phrasal verb) → increased in body size, especially by gaining more muscle
• lean /liːn/ → thin and healthy
• wiry /ˈwaɪəri/ → thin but strong
• unkempt /ˌʌnˈkempt/ → untidy, scruffy (the opposite would be smart or neat; ‘kempt’ does not exist)

*scruffy /ˈskrʌfi/ → dirty or untidy in appearance

[= shabby]

• never a hair out of place (idiom) → always well-dressed, neat and smart-looking

*[original] not have a hair out of place (idiom)

• immaculate /ɪˈmækjələt/ → in perfect condition, smart
• swarthy /ˈswɔːrði/ → dark-colored, used about skin
• complexion (n) → the natural colour and condition of the skin on a person’s face
• sallow /ˈsæləʊ/ → yellowish
• haggard /ˈhæɡərd/ → his face looked ill and tired [= drawn /drɔːn/]

Learn by heart & fill in the blanks

Hi Jessica,

Guess who I bumped into the other day! Our old college mate, Rob Parsons! First thing I noticed was he’s really _____ _____(he used to be so _____ and _____, didn’t he?) but also that he still looks so _____. His sister was always the opposite — _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ and _____ clothes, remember? But they were different in appearance too, weren’t they? He has a rather _____ complexion: his sister’s was more _____. I must say he looked a bit _____ and exhausted too. He’s probably working too hard. Anyway, how are things with you?

Beth