Views #1220 | Advanced (C1)

Metrosexual

Daniel talks with Vella about the concept of some men being metrosexual.

Daniel: Well we're talking about men and being macho and stuff like that but recently there's the whole thing about being metrosexual, right? What do you think about that?

Vella: I have no problem with, you know, metrosexual because I think, you know, everyone has the right to look good and to take care of themselves even for men.

Daniel: Uh, uh.

Vella: For example, David Beckham, he's one example of metrosexual guys and I think he looks amazing with the underwear he dresses. Yeah, I have no problem.

Daniel: Yeah, yeah but like one thing it's about how you dress and, because metrosexual people they don't, I mean they do care of a lot of other things not only clothes, right? They take care of their hair, I don't know, their faces. I don't know, so many things they do that not a lot of people do especially men. You know, they take care of their nails, their hands and for some people that might be a bit weird. What do you think as a woman? Do you like it, you don't? It's too much? What is it?

Vella: I'm OK with that, just not too much though.

Daniel: OK.

Vella: Like for example, I mean guys in rock bands they usually wear makeup, like eyeliner, and I'm actually really into that.

Daniel: OK.

Vella: And I don't know if you know this guy called Adam Lambert, he was the winner of American Idol last season.

Daniel: Oh, yeah.

Vella: And he wears a lot of, you know, eyeliner and yeah I think it's pretty cool.

Daniel: But I don't know, as a girl for example, because OK usually makeup and stuff like that are more related to girls, right? So what if your boyfriend is a metrosexual and he knows or he has more makeup than you have, how does that make you feel?

Vella: Well I wouldn't, you know, choose a metrosexual guy to be my boyfriend but, you know, I think it's OK for guys to wear makeup just not too much.

Daniel: Uh, uh.

Vella: I mean only eyeliner I think is fine but if he starts wearing blusher or lipstick, you know, there's something wrong with them.

Daniel: OK. So how about all the other things they do that they take care a lot of their bodies? How about that?

Vella: I think it's totally fine, you know, taking care of yourself. I think it shows that you really care about, you know, how you look.

Daniel: I had a discussion with a female friend before and she totally agreed that boys should take care of themselves like a bit more because I mean, yeah, the whole macho thing I think it's appealling but at the same time I don't think, I don't think it's fair that like boys expect girls to take care of themselves and to be pretty, to look pretty, I don't know makeup, the hair, the nails, but boys sometimes, I mean I don't think girls want to go out with a monkey, you know. It's like, you have to take care of themselves, of yourself, it's not fair that girls have to put all the effort and boys, you know, just don't do anything. So I agree with the thing that, I mean it's all right, we have to take care of ourselves and we have to try to look better but I'm not used to the whole makeup and stuff so personally I don't do it and I don't think I will be comfortable doing it. So I don't know.

Vella: Absolutely, I agree. What about in Chilean culture? How do they take metrosexual? Is there a big issue or people just don't care?

Daniel: It's a big issue. We're not really used to have people, I mean boys wearing makeup and stuff like that. So when you see somebody doing it, it's kind of like a shock. It's not really clear if he's a metrosexual or he's gay like because in Chile that's a big issue still. So, but more and more people are accepting that. I mean, OK, if you wear makeup all right. If you, I don't know, do your nails, OK, but it's not really common. It's more for like people who are, I don't know, singers, actors or stuff like that. Not really common people do it still at least. How about in Indonesia? How is the, how do people take that?

Vella: I mean like metrosexual you can define it in, you know, so many ways. If guys wear makeup or guys dressing up, you know, really fancy, well I hardly, you know, see any man in Indonesia wearing makeup but a lot of them, you know, dress really fancy and I think we don't have a problem with that and a lot of, you know, my friends, young teenagers, they really dig that. They're really into, you know, guys who dress up really fancy so it's not an issue.

Daniel: It's not an issue. OK. Like it's getting more popular, right?

Vella: It is and a lot of my friends are really metrosexual.

Daniel: OK, that's good. Thanks.

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

metrosexual

image

I have no problem with someone being metrosexual, because everyone has the right to look good.

A 'metrosexual' is an urban male who pays a lot of attention to his physical appearance and clothing. Notice the following:

  1. My favorite people to go shopping with are metrosexuals.
  2. You can tell he's from the city because of his metrosexual appearance.

too much

image

Do you think a man taking care of his nails is too much?

Something is 'too much'  when it is past the point of being acceptable. Notice the following:

  1. The earrings look good with that outfit, but the necklace is a bit too much.
  2. Three dogs is a little too much to handle right now.

eyeliner, blusher, lipstick

image

I mean, eyeliner is fine, but if he starts wearing blusher or lipstick, something is definitely wrong with him.

These are different types of make-up used on your eyes, cheeks and lips. Notice the following:

  1. That lipstick is too bright for your skin color.
  2. He always wears eyeliner when he performs.

a shock

image

We're not used to men wearing makeup and stuff. It's kind of a shock.

Something that is 'a shock' surprises you because you do not expect it. Notice the following:

  1. Her marriage announcement was a real shock for everyone.
  2. Moving to a new country is always a shock in a lot of ways.

gay

image

In Chile, it's not always clear if he's a metrosexual or he's gay.

A 'gay' man is romantically attracted to other men. Notice the following:

  1. There are many gay men in this area.
  2. All of his friends kind of knew he was gay before he declared it.

dig

image

A lot of my friends really dig the metrosexual look.

If you 'dig' something, you really like it. Notice the following:

  1. He doesn't really dig my music.
  2. I really dig the new clothing store that just opened by my house.

Vocabulary Quiz

metrosexual • too much • lipstick
shock • gay • dig
  1. Most older women do not leave the house without .
  2. This is a very popular club.
  3. That dress is a bit for a party like this. You should wear something more casual.
  4. I really this band's sound.
  5. Living in the city turned him into a bit of a .
  6. It came as a to most of us that they decided to get married.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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Hello, and welcome to elllo. My name is Todd Beuckens. I've been an ESL teacher for 25 years. I created elllo to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.
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