B1TV Show
The Simpsons
1989– · FOX
12 key words from The Simpsons — learn them before you watch for a much richer experience.
Word
Meaning
Example
satiren
using humour to criticise or expose problems in society
The Simpsons is a brilliant satire of American family life.
suburbanadj
relating to a residential area outside a city
Springfield is the perfect satirical suburban town.
mediocreadj
not very good; average
Homer is a mediocre worker at the nuclear plant.
prankn/v
a trick played on someone for fun
Bart loves to prank Principal Skinner.
detentionn
being kept at school as a punishment
Bart gets detention almost every episode.
exaggeratev
to describe something as greater than it really is
Homer always exaggerates his problems dramatically.
catchphrasen
a short phrase that someone says repeatedly
'D'oh!' is Homer's most famous catchphrase.
parodyn
an imitation of something, done for comic effect
The Simpsons parodies celebrities and political figures.
overreactv
to respond to something too strongly
Homer overreacts to almost every situation.
gagn
a joke, especially a visual one
Every episode opens with a unique couch gag.
principaln
the head teacher of a school
Principal Skinner is always frustrated by Bart.
naiveadj
lacking experience and believing things too easily
Lisa is idealistic; Homer is naive about politics.
12 words · B1 · TV Show
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Study tip
Watch Seasons 2–8 for the best language quality. The show is full of idioms, puns and cultural references.
Practice Exercises
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- ✓Quick-Fire MCQ quiz