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Keep your English up to date
Smirt
Gavin Dudeney
Some people still smoke (actually, I’m one of them!) – it’s
becoming less common since different bans came in in
different countries, but it’s still something that a lot of
people do. Of course, these days in many countries you
can’t smoke inside office buildings, banks and post offices,
so you’ll often see smokers standing outside having a quick
cigarette.
But did you know that we often meet our partners in the
workplace? And what better place to break the ice with the
partner of your dreams than outside on the pavement
while you’re both smoking? A short period in which to get
to know each other and check your compatibility. In short,
a place to flirt with potential partners.
And that’s where we get the verb ‘to smirt’ – a
portmanteau (a blend) of the words ‘smoke’ and ‘flirt’ – a kind of social
pastime for smokers. So next time you pass an office building in winter
and you see the smokers outside, don’t feel too sorry for them standing
there in the cold – they’re probably having a great time smirting with
each other.
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2008
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