Vocabulary practice · Episode 181

Review the useful expressions from the episode

Study the episode’s central expressions with English definitions, nuance and examples, plus reviewed support-language versions where available.

B1–B2Everyday EnglishAbout 5 min + dynamic ads5 PDF versions available
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A short study session

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  1. Choose one expression. Read its definition, nuance and examples.
  2. Make it yours. Write one true sentence from your own life.
  3. Return to the episode. Listen for the expression in its original context.

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Vocabulary from the episode

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Expression 1

shrinkflation

A reduction in the amount of a product without a corresponding reduction in its price.

Nuance: Usually uncountable. The price may stay the same or rise; compare quantity and price, not wrapper size alone. A change in ingredients is not automatically shrinkflation.

The same-price chocolate bar contains less chocolate: that is shrinkflation.

The report compared pack weights and prices to identify shrinkflation.

Expression 2

downsize

Make something smaller, or move to something smaller.

Nuance: A verb: downsized is the past form. It describes a reduction, not necessarily dishonest intent; a household can downsize to a smaller home as well as a company downsizing a pack.

The company has downsized the pack.

After their children moved out, they downsized to a smaller home.

Expression 3

get less for your money

Receive less in return for the amount you spend.

Nuance: A conversational comparison of value or quantity. In this episode it concerns less product at the same price; if both quantity and price fall, compare their proportions before deciding.

The bar is smaller at the same price, so I get less for my money.

We checked the weight to see whether we were getting less for our money.

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