E022 Tickled Pink

Welcome to English with Kimberley.

In this episode, I want to talk to you about the colour pink and its importance culturally in English speaking countries.

Pink has an interesting history as a colour. It’s said to be a lighter shade of red and as a colour has been used for the last 300 years or so. It’s also one of my favourite colours.

Here’s a quick question.

When did pink become a girl’s colour?

Was it about…

a) 1940?

b) 1800?

c) 1850?

or d) 1950?

And again.

When did pink become a girl’s colour?

Was it about…

a) 1940?

b) 1800?

or c) 1850?

d) 1950?

Well, you’ll be surprised to know that it was around 1940 that it really got established as a girl’s colour through marketing. In fact, if you look at a colour picture of children from hundred years ago you may spot boys dressed in pink and, more surprisingly, in dresses too.

English has many words and phrases associated with Pink such as ‘In the pink’ for feeling great and on top of the world.

In Australia, we even have pink coloured lakes like the Pink Lakes in Western Australia where the water looks like a strawberry milkshake. Why don’t you type ‘Pink Lakes Australia’ in your search engine and look at some of the images that come up – they look very interesting

Let’s finish with this quiz – as always just for fun.

The tittle of this podcast is Tickled Pink. But was does tickled pink mean?

Is it…

a) someone’s skin that has been scratched a lot?

b) someone who’s very pleased or happy?

c) the name of a cocktail that is the colour pink?

or d) an apple that has a pink skin?

Just let me repeat the question.

The tittle of this podcast is Tickled Pink. But was does tickled pink mean?

Is it…

a) someone’s skin that has been scratched a lot?

b) someone who’s very pleased or happy?

c) the name of a cocktail that is the colour pink?

or d) an apple that has a pink skin?

Did you get that b) ‘tickled pink is someone who’s very pleased or happy’ – about something?

For example, ‘He was tickled pink with his birthday present – it was just what he wanted.’

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You can also find a script of this podcast at www.goaustralia.biz

I hope you have enjoyed this podcast and you’ll join me again.

Further Information/Sources

Australia Tourism. (2017). Guide to pink lake from http://www.australia.com/en/places/wa/pink-lake.html

Jezedel. (2017). The history of pink for girls, blue for boys from http://www.jezebel.com/5790638/the-history-of-pink-for-girls-blue-for-boys