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세션 11

What's in a name? We show you how to use the phrase a tower of strength - and bring you some useful phrases for talking about people you can rely on.

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A tower of strength - meaning and use

We asked you: who was a tower of strength for footballer David Beckham? It was Alex Ferguson, the manager of his team, Manchester United.

To do

Let's look at the meaning and modern use of a tower of strength. Listen to this extract from the animation to help you remember what the narrator said, and then do the quiz to check you understood.

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스크립트 보기스크립트 숨기기

Narrator
...Of course, these days, you don't have to kill your family to be described as a tower of strength - you just have to be strong, reliable, trustworthy, dependable and good in a crisis. Like footballer David Beckham, who said:

Clip 1
Alex Ferguson was like a father to me. He was a tower of strength.

Clip 2
My husband was a tower of strength when I had that operation - he really looked after me well.

Now have a go at this quiz. Look at the transcript if you need extra help.

As strong as a tower

3 Questions

Answer these questions about the meaning of a tower of strength.

잘하셨습니다 퀴즈를 다하셨습니다
Excellent!Great job!네 안타깝군요이번 점수입니다:
x / y

How did you do?
2-3 correct - congratulations, you're now ready to learn some phrases to describe a person who is a tower of strength.
0-1 correct - oh dear! Have a look at the transcript and try again.

Language note

We can replace tower with pillar, for example:

  • She was apillar of strength 

A pillar is a large post that helps to hold something up

Next

Do you have someone in your life who is a tower of strength?  We want to hear all about them, but first we'll introduce you to some useful phrases to help you describe how supportive they are.

Session Vocabulary

  • For more great Shakespeare content visit our partner,The OU

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    A tower of strength

    Meaning
    The phrase a tower of strength describes someone who is strong, reliable, trustworthy, dependable and good in a crisis. 

    Example sentence
    My husband was a tower of strength when I had that operation - he really looked after me well.

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    Extra vocabulary

    a baddie
    a bad character in a story, film or play

    a battle
    a ​fight between ​armed ​forces

    to stick with someone through thick and thin
    to support a friend or partner through difficult experiences as well as good ones

    to have someone’s back
    to be prepared and ready to support or defend someone

    to stand by someone
    to support someone

    my rock
    describes a person who is supportive and helps you when times are difficult

    to count on someone
    to depend on someone

    to be there for someone
    to be available to provide support and comfort for someone

    a pillar
    a large post that helps to hold something up

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    About Shakespeare Speaks

    Shakespeare Speaks is a co-production between:

    BBC Learning English

    The Open University

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