Fuddy-duddy

Rob Hello, I’m Rob…

Feifei … And I’m Feifei and this is The English We Speak. Hey, happy birthday for last week Rob.

Rob Thanks Feifei, yes 21 years old - where has the time gone?

Feifei Are you sure - you don’t act like a 21-year-old.

Rob What are you saying, Feifei?

Feifei Well, errr, look at your clothes - they’re not very trendy, they’re a bit boring!

Rob Boring?

Feifei Yes… and come on, you’re not very youthful.

Rob Youthful?! Just because I haven’t got any tattoos - who wants a tattoo anyway, they look silly, don’t they? And they damage the skin as well…

Feifei
There you go - old fashioned attitudes - no way’re you 21!

Rob
So you’re saying I am a fuddy-duddy ?

Feifei
A fuddy-duddy - that’s an informal phrase to describe someone who is boring, dull and has old-fashioned attitudes. Let’s hear some examples of this phrase.

Examples Ling thinks I’m an old fuddy-duddy because I don ‘t drive a flashy sports car.

My dad’s a bit of a fuddy-duddy - he still listens to music on cassette tapes.

The bank has lost many customers over the years, probably due to its fuddy-duddy image.

Feifei So a fuddy-duddy is someone who is old-fashioned and sometimes pompous. But Rob, being a fuddy-duddy isn’t all bad.

Rob Oh yes? Boring, old-fashioned - how can that be a good thing?

Feifei Well, you make us all laugh.

Rob Yes but for the wrong reasons - I’m off.

Feifei Oh dear, it seems like a fuddy-duddy doesn’t even a sense of humour. Where are you going?

Rob
To get a tattoo done.

Feifei It’ll hurt. Bye!