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BBC Learning EnglishWords in the NewsWelcome home, gnomes20th May 2013_____________________________________________________

Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2013Page 1 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

This year will be the first time in its 100-year history that the Chelsea Flower Show is

allowing gnomes to be shown. But why this year? And why was there a ban in the first

place?

BBC reporter, Steve Evans:

People either love them or hate them garden gnomes, those little figurines of men

with their pointy, red hats and white beards, with a pipe or a fishing rod, that are used

to decorate gardens in some countries. Some people have called the ban on them at the

prestigious Chelsea flower show snobbery or worse still, gnomo-phobia. The

organisers, the Royal Horticultural Society, defend themselves by saying the ban on what

they describe as brightly-coloured, mythicalcreatures is in force so as not to distract

from the flowers on show. But this year the ban is being lifted. So do people support the

move?

People giving their opinions:

I dont mind garden gnomes. I think they bring a bit of colour. They bring a bit of

amusement. And, you know, theres a place for them in the right type of garden.

I think theyre very nice and Im from Denmark and I think theres a tradition in Denmark.

We always have them in our gardens.

Im all forequality and equal opportunity for everybody including gnomes.

The moratorium is to allow in a group of more than 100 celebrity gnomes, or rather,

gnomes decorated by celebrities such as Sir Elton John and Dolly Parton. They will be

auctioned to raise money for a charity that helps children get involved in gardening.

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Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2013

Page 2 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

figurines small models of people

fishing rod a long pole with a line of string and a hook attached

to it, used for catching fish

prestigious highly respected and admired

snobbery behaviour and attitudes held by snobs (people who

think they are better than others)

-phobia extreme fear of something, often fear of things that

people are not usually afraid of (examples:

arachnophobia fear of spiders, claustrophobia

fear of closed spaces)

mythical not real, existing only in stories (in myths)

in force (of a law or rule) being applied; happening

lifted (of a law or rule) stopped, ended

all for in favour of; agreeing with

moratorium stopping an activity for an agreed amount of time

auctioned sold publicly to the person who offers the most

money

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/05/130520_witn_gnomes.shtml

Related story:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22594835

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/05/130520_witn_gnomes.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/05/130520_witn_gnomes.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22594835http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22594835http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22594835http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/05/130520_witn_gnomes.shtml