Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Noun Phrase 109. The noun phrase today is love
handles. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If someone has love handles, he
or she has extra fat at the sides of one's waistline. Okay. It is mostly used
in a euphemistic way. So it's kind of used in a nicer way. It's much nicer to
call that love handles than to say fat. Oh that's fat. You got fat on the sides of
your waistline. No. It's just love handles those are love handles. Okay. So
let's continue. Although not commonly heard until the 1960s, so it's not that
old the phrase. The origin is unclear or we don't definitely know it, although we
might be able to guess at it. According to Richard
Spears. So this is a guy that wrote a book slang ... Slangs and Euphemisms or slangs and,
euphemisms. He wrote a book about this in 1981. He defines love handles as fat on
the sides of a man or a woman held during copulation. So they hold...
Copulation well this sounds a little rougher. That actually sounds like sex.
So during sex, this is an area where they may hold during copulation. Let's
continue. However the phrase seems to be used in a more endearing way. You know, in
a more sort of a loving way. You know, not, not we don't usually say sex. We'll just
you know, maybe making out or kissing. Perhaps because most people have some
degree of love handles. Yeah you'd have to be pretty thin or in pretty good
shape to have no love handles at all. But of course if you're overweight your love
handles might be a lot bigger and it is often the area held when lovers are
kissing which is, which is really makes sense that this is probably where the
term actually came from Because often you know, they will hold each other on
the side there. They'll leave their hands on the
slide. Just while kissing you know, you've specially standing up and kissing. Okay.
All right. Anyway, let's look at a couple of examples. This is just the way you
might hear it used. So number one somebody says I am doing more situps
because I'm trying to get rid of my love handles. Yeah. Sometimes people say it in
that way because you know, they do realize it's fat and maybe you want to
get rid of that fat. Sit-ups would be the good exercise to do in order to try to
reduce or get rid of your your love handles. Number two here. I don't know how
many times I heard it said this way. That's not fat. Those are just love
handles. You know. So actually maybe this is a good way to say it. If you do have a
partner you know. Advice for men never, never say you know, a wife or a
girlfriend has fat on the side. Actually it's better not to talk about it at all.
But, but if you must, love handles is a much better way to refer to it. Anyway, I
hope you got it. I hope it's clear. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for your time.
Bye-bye.