PE 10/10 You’re a Different Guy Around Your Friends

A leopard can’t change its spots! I’m always just me: Little Tommy Bartlett.

* a leopard can’t change its spots: people (or animals) can’t change who they really are and will always act that way

ex> Don’t expect your boyfriend to become more responsible – a leopard can’t change its spots.

I’m not saying you aren't yourself. I’m saying you’re a different you around the guys. Like the way you talk. You have this tough-guy persona around them that you don’t have at home with me.

* tough-guy persona: a macho act put on by a man who is not really like that

Note> A PERSONA is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask.

ex> The tough-guy persona was just an act. Everyone who knows Tom thinks he is actually very sweet.

Ha ha ha! That’s ridiculous! Anyway, you’re one to talk – remember when we bumped into your college girlfriend at that dinner party last month? You were acting like James Bond – all suave and debonair!

* suave and debonair: smooth and charming

ex> On screen, he was suave and debonair, but in real life Jack was quite goofy.

Just for the record, I wanted to make her feel bad for dumping me. You know, make her see what kind of man I had become since college.

* just for the record: a way of stating one’s position on a topic

= Just so you remember…; Let me make myself clear…; Let’s get things straight…

ex> Just for the record, I never approved the purchases made by the personnel department.

I don’t know, honey. I kinda like the Faye that the pastor knows. Except with the “colorful language” I’m used to, you know, for good measure?

* for good measure: in addition to what is normally done

ex> For good measure, let’s add another teaspoon of vanilla.