A thing of the past meaning in English
Learn how to use A thing of the past correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
It's a thing of the past: It's obsolete, outdated, old, archaic, dated, old-fashioned
With the arrival of mp3 players, CDs are becoming a thing of the past.
Examples
- "The styles of the 80s may be a thing of the past, but the concept behind power dressing is as relevant as ever."
- "Rupert : Soon however, fish and chips could become a thing of the past!"
- "We guarantee that once you're finished reading it, your problem will be a thing of the past."
Exercise 1
What are the main themes of Rupert's report?
Choose all the TRUE statements from the list below, and tick any correct answers that apply.
There may be more than one!
Choose all the TRUE statements from the list below, and tick any correct answers that apply.
There may be more than one!
What are the main themes of Rupert's report?
Choose all the TRUE statements from the list below, and tick any correct answers that apply.
There may be more than one!
Choose all the TRUE statements from the list below, and tick any correct answers that apply.
There may be more than one!
This is correct. Rupert says that "the European Commission has expressed fears that the number of fish in the North Sea is running low due to overfishing." This means that the EC (European Commission) is concerned about the amount of fishing in the North Sea (the sea on the East coast of Britain). The EC's concern for overfishing, as well as its effect on employment is one of the main themes of Rupert's report. Note the use of the prefix "over-" in the term "overfishing", which generally means "excessively" or "too much". This prefix often precedes words to express this sense of excess (overdose, overtired, overconfident, etc.)
This is a false statement. Rupert is not reporting on a "boom" (or period of prosperity) in the fishing industry. On the contrary, he is talking about the decline of fishing in Northern Scotland and the possible end of "fish and chips".
This is correct. Rupert says "But here's the real problem. Eliminating half of the fishing industry would have a devastating effect on unemployment levels in Northern Scotland." Rupert is saying that there is a strong chance that fishermen will not be able to work because of restrictions on fishing imposed by the European Commission. As a result, there will be an increase in the amount of people who are unemployed (out of work, or without jobs) in Northern Scotland, causing major problems for the region and its people.
Correct. This is the principal subject of the report. Rupert is reporting about the future of fish and chips, and the fact that this traditional British dish might disappear because of the amount of fishing in the North Sea. Rupert says that "Soon...fish and chips could become a thing of the past". When we talk about something becoming "a thing of the past", we mean that it may disappear. Rupert calls "fish and chips" both a traditional dish, as well as a "staple" of British cuisine. Both of these statements describe the importance of "fish and chips" to the citizens of Great Britain.
This is a false statement. Rupert is not reporting on a decline in popularity, but rather a possible decline in the existence of "fish and chips". Rupert is not reporting on public opinion, but rather on the consequences of "overfishing" and its impact on employment.
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