Selfish meaning in English
Learn how to use Selfish correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
selfish: egotistical, self-centered, self-interested, only concerned with oneself
Exercise 1
Change the adjectives in the blanks into their superlative form.
Example: Stink is the (old) dog in California = Stink is the oldest dog in California.
Bob Carter thinks that computers are the things ever invented.
Horatio drinks only the single-malt Scotch whiskey at work.
Phillip is the man I have ever met.
Icarus has one of the brains in America.
Jean had the hangover of his life after drinking a bottle of perfume.
Example: Stink is the (old) dog in California = Stink is the oldest dog in California.
Bob Carter thinks that computers are the things ever invented.
Horatio drinks only the single-malt Scotch whiskey at work.
Phillip is the man I have ever met.
Icarus has one of the brains in America.
Jean had the hangover of his life after drinking a bottle of perfume.
Change the adjectives in the blanks into their superlative form.
Example: Stink is the (old) dog in California = Stink is the oldest dog in California.
Bob Carter thinks that computers are the [not done] most horrible 1 things ever invented.
Horatio drinks only the [not done] best 2 single-malt Scotch whiskey at work.
Phillip is the [not done] most selfish 3 man I have ever met.
Icarus has one of the [not done] finest 4 brains in America.
Jean had the [not done] worst 5 hangover of his life after drinking a bottle of perfume.
Example: Stink is the (old) dog in California = Stink is the oldest dog in California.
Bob Carter thinks that computers are the [not done] most horrible 1 things ever invented.
Horatio drinks only the [not done] best 2 single-malt Scotch whiskey at work.
Phillip is the [not done] most selfish 3 man I have ever met.
Icarus has one of the [not done] finest 4 brains in America.
Jean had the [not done] worst 5 hangover of his life after drinking a bottle of perfume.
1 most horrible: 'Horrible' is a long (polysyllabic) adjective, so it requires 'most' or 'least' in the superlative form. NOTE: This is only a general rule, and there are a number of exceptions. For example 'happy' can change to either 'happiest' or 'most happy' in the superlative form, even though it is long (polysyllabic). 'Least horrible' and 'most horrible' are both acceptable answers here.
2 best: 'Best' is the superlative form of 'good'. The adjective 'good' is irregular in its comparative and superlative forms. Good/Better/Best.
3 most selfish: 'Selfish' is a long (polysyllabic) adjective, so it requires 'most' or 'least' in the superlative form. NOTE: This is only a general rule, and there are a number of exceptions. For example 'happy' can change to either 'happiest' or 'most happy' in the superlative form, even though it is long (polysyllabic). 'Least selfish' and 'most selfish' are both acceptable answers here.
4 finest: 'Finest' is the superlative form of the adjective 'fine'. Generally, we create the superlative form of short adjectives (of one or two syllables) by adding 'est' to them (in this case, just 'st' is necessary).
5 worst: 'Worst' is the superlative form of 'bad'. It is irregular in the comparative and superlative forms. Bad/Worse/Worst.
Exercise 2
Warbuckle talks about his "silly hobbies".
Which of the following words shares a similar meaning with silly?
Which of the following words shares a similar meaning with silly?
Warbuckle talks about his "silly hobbies".
Which of the following words shares a similar meaning with silly?
Which of the following words shares a similar meaning with silly?
The adjective "silly" shares a very similar meaning with "foolish". Both words mean "childish, simple, unintelligent or unwise".
"Silly" does not share a similar meaning with "controversial". A "controversial (issue)" is polemic, not one-sided, sensitive or touchy.
"Silly" does not share a similar meaning with "dangerous".
"Silly" does not share a similar meaning with "selfish". A "selfish" person thinks only of themselves and no one else.
Exercise 3
Susan accuses Sigourney of being "narrow minded". Let's take a closer look at this expression!
First, find the literal meaning of the term "narrow".
For example, if a street is "narrow", this means it: .
Next, what does the expression "narrow minded" mean in the context of the dialogue?
Susie is saying that she thinks Sigourney .
First, find the literal meaning of the term "narrow".
For example, if a street is "narrow", this means it: .
Next, what does the expression "narrow minded" mean in the context of the dialogue?
Susie is saying that she thinks Sigourney .
Susan accuses Sigourney of being "narrow minded". Let's take a closer look at this expression!
First, find the literal meaning of the term "narrow".
For example, if a street is "narrow", this means it: has a limited width 1.
Next, what does the expression "narrow minded" mean in the context of the dialogue?
Susie is saying that she thinks Sigourney is intolerant 2.
First, find the literal meaning of the term "narrow".
For example, if a street is "narrow", this means it: has a limited width 1.
Next, what does the expression "narrow minded" mean in the context of the dialogue?
Susie is saying that she thinks Sigourney is intolerant 2.
1 has a limited width: This is the best choice here. When something is "narrow", it is "not wide" or has a "limited width". This adjective can be used to describe many things, including passage ways and even trousers! In some circumstances it shares a similar meaning with "slim" or "thin". Example: "There is a very narrow gap between my desk and my colleague's desk".
1 is very long: If something is "long", it is "tall" or "big in length". This does not share a similar meaning with the term "narrow".
1 is very wide: If something is "wide" it is "broad" or "has a large width". This is in fact the opposite of the term "narrow".
1 has lots of tall buildings: This is not the best choice here. The fact that a street has tall buildings is unrelated to it being "narrow" or otherwise.
2 is intolerant: This is the best choice here. To be "narrow minded" is to have a limited view-point of an issue, or to be prejudiced. Example: "My parents are very narrow-minded people, and they don't like my boyfriend because he has long hair".
2 wants to fight: Although Sigourney is rather aggressive in this dialogue, the term "narrow-minded" does not describe someone who wants to "fight" or "argue".
2 isn't very intelligent: This is not the best answer here. The term "narrow-minded" does not describe someone who is "stupid" or "not intelligent".
2 is selfish: This is not the best answer here. The term "narrow-minded" does not describe someone who is "selfish" or "thinks only of themselves".
Exercise 4
"Don't bite the hand that feeds you"
"To bite the hand that feeds" is to:
"To bite the hand that feeds" is to:
"Don't bite the hand that feeds you"
"To bite the hand that feeds" is to:
"To bite the hand that feeds" is to:
This is not the meaning of "to bite the hands that feeds". To "fail to take responsibility" is to refuse to accept blame or liability. "To fail" means "to neglect" or "to not succeed".
This is incorrect. To "ignore advice" is to refuse to notice or disregard any counsel or recommendations. This is not the meaning of "to bite the hands that feeds".
This is the correct choice. "To bite the hand that feeds (you)" is to treat someone badly who has helped you in some way, or to be unkind to someone who has been generous to you. Example: Remember to not bite the hand that feeds you when speaking to your parents.
This is incorrect. To act in a "selfish" way is to be egotistical or to think only of yourself. This is not the meaning of "to bite the hands that feeds".
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