Repressed
2018.12.19
Meaning:
‘to repress’ is a verb meaning ‘to hold back (strongly)’. So if I hold back a smile (ie don’t smile when I want to smile), I can say ‘I repress a smile’. If I say ‘He is repressed’, I mean ‘He cannot express his true feelings’. Sometimes hiding our feelings can be good, but repressed has a slightly negative nuance. It suggests a psychological problem. We often use repressed about people who cannot talk about love and/or sex.
Example:
A: My boyfriend is so repressed.
B: What do you mean? He won’t talk about his feelings?
A: He never does that. And we’ve been dating for 6 months and he still hasn’t kissed me… And he won’t talk about it.
B: Oh wow. That must be a bit difficult for you.
Talking Point(s):
Do you think you are repressed? Why?
大人からの英会話getgo 西船橋・荻窪・津田沼・本八幡