Understanding Common Terms in Entertainment and Media
UPBEAT: full of hope, happiness, and good feelings.
FRANTIC: extremely worried and frightened about a situation.
FIANCÉ: the man who someone is engaged to be married to.
CONFIDE: tell something secret or personal to someone who you trust not to tell anyone else.
NAIVE: innocent, credulous.
WHEATHERFIELD: a fictional town which is the setting for the soap opera Coronation Street.
HASN’T GIVEN UP THE FIGHT YET: hasn’t quite fighting yet.
GET AWAY WITH IT: succeed in avoiding punishment for something.
FAITHFUL FRIEND: loyal friend.
VAN: a medium-sized vehicle, used especially for carrying goods.
PLAGUE: an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality.
CHARACTER: a person in a novel, play, or film.
ROLE: a part of character played by an actor or actress.
OTT: over the top.
CATCH-UP: reach the same standard, stage, or level.
VENUE: the place where public events or meetings happen.
PASTIME: an activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment, a hobby.
DRAMA: a serious play for the theatre, television, or radio.
SOAP OPERA: a popular TV drama series.
ADVERTISE: make something known generally, especially in order to sell it.
SPONSOR: a business or organization that pays the cost of a sports event, concert, etc., in return for advertising.
STORYLINE: the plot of a novel, play, film, or other narrative form.
CAST: the actors in a film, play, or show.
GET ROUND TO: find the time to do something.
ON THE SPOT: at the scene of an event.
SHIP OUT: send.
PURCHASE: acquire something by paying for it.
PARTICULARLY: especially.
TURN OUT TO BE: develop or end in a particular way.
BREAKING NEWS: information that is being received and broadcast about an event that has just happened.
CREDITS: the list of names of people and organizations who helped to make a movie or television program.
FRONT PAGE: the first page of a newspaper.
HEADLINE: the title of a newspaper report.
TABLOID: a newspaper having pages half the size of those of the average broadsheet.
SIT-COM: situation comedy.
SOUNDTRACK: the sounds, especially the music of a film or a separate recording of this.
SCIENCE FICTION: books, films, or cartoons about an imagined future, especially about space travel or other planets.
HISTORICAL FILM: a fiction film showing past events or set within a historical period.
CARTOON: a short film that is made by photographing a series of drawings.
DOCUMENTARY: a film or television or radio program that gives facts and information about a subject.
SPORT PROGRAMME: a show about sports.
TALENT SHOW: a competition.
TRAVEL PROGRAMME: a show about traveling.
VARIETY PROGRAMME: a theatrical show.
WEATHER FORECAST: a statement saying what the weather will be like the next day or week.
TO BE INTO SOMETHING: like and be interested in something.
EPISODE: an episode of something is one of the separate parts in which it is broadcast.
SEASON: a period in which a play or show is performed in one place.
SPOILER: forward information.
CAMEO: a small but not noticeable part in a film or play, performed by a famous actor.
COMEDY: a play, film, or TV program that is intended to make people laugh.
COOKING SHOW: program of food preparation.
DOCUMENTARY: a program which shows real events or provides information about a particular theme.
FILM: consists of moving pictures that have been recorded so that they can be shown at the cinema or on TV.
GOSSIP SHOW: a show about other people’s private affairs.
HEALTH AND FITNESS SHOW: a program that shows people how to stay healthy and in good shape.
MAKEOVER SHOW: a program in which an expert improves a person’s appearance.
SERIES: a set of programs of a particular kind.
CHARACTER: a person in a novel, play, or film.
ROLE: an actor’s part.
CABLE TV: the system of sending TV programs or phone signals along wires underground.
COMMERCIAL: a TV or radio advertisement.
SPIN-OFF: produce something new based on a popular TV program, film, etc.
BOOED: say boo to show disapproval of a speaker or performer.
SEQUEL: book, film, etc., that continues an earlier story.