This cartoon by Andy Davey from The Sun relates to news that cigarette displays are to be banned in shops, meaning that shopkeepers in England will have to start selling cigarettes under the counter.
VOCABULARY
1. Ciggie is a slang word for cigarette.
2. If somone buys or sells goods under the counter, they buy or sell them secretly and illegally. While it won't be illegal to sell cigarettes, this new legislation is one more step towards a complete ban.
1. Ciggie is a slang word for cigarette.
2. If somone buys or sells goods under the counter, they buy or sell them secretly and illegally. While it won't be illegal to sell cigarettes, this new legislation is one more step towards a complete ban.
COMMENTARY
To fully understand this cartoon, you need to know that the phrase "Something for the weekend, sir?" was originally a euphemistic code used by British barbers to avoid asking directly if a man wanted to buy condoms. Of course, this was in the days when condoms were not widely available. Here, the expression is applied to cigarettes, suggesting that they have now become a subject of embarassment (which is why the mother covers her the girl's eyes). The shopkeeper winks to signal that his question is laden with innuendo.
To fully understand this cartoon, you need to know that the phrase "Something for the weekend, sir?" was originally a euphemistic code used by British barbers to avoid asking directly if a man wanted to buy condoms. Of course, this was in the days when condoms were not widely available. Here, the expression is applied to cigarettes, suggesting that they have now become a subject of embarassment (which is why the mother covers her the girl's eyes). The shopkeeper winks to signal that his question is laden with innuendo.
DISCUSSION QUESTION
Is the government right to ban cigarette displays?
Is the government right to ban cigarette displays?
Fonte: The English Blog
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