Click below to listen to the phrase.
Choose the correct definition a, b or c.
a) ordinary
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’Plain Jane’ means to be a young woman who is of unremarkable appearance, not very beautiful or exceptionally smart.
French translation
madame tout le monde, une fille quelconque
How NOT to translate : *une Jane nature
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Examples in context
’How it pays to be a Plain Jane : Having a average-looking face makes you appear more trustworthy.
Being described as average-looking might not sound like much of a compliment, but having a ‘typical’ face means people trust you more.
Psychologists created a scale of faces, ranging from unattractive to attractive, and found those around the half-way point were rated as the most trustworthy.
The experts believe that we are more comfortable with familiar faces because we are tuned to fear the unknown and unusual.’
The Daily Mail, 17th December 2014
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’Teenage millionaire : The year I won the lottery.
Jane Park was just 17 when she won £1m with her first ever lottery ticket. How did the big win affect one of Scotland’s youngest lottery millionaires ?
In the summer of 2013, Jane had left high school and was working in a temporary admin job for a charity organisation.
"Plain Jane from Niddrie was on the news," she says.
The newspapers came calling and a chauffeur-driven limousine took her to her photo-call, "with me wearing a Primark dress", Jane says.’
The BBC News, 17th December 2014
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Everyday usage
I knew Maria would wear that dull dress to work, but for meeting clients she needs to look more professional. She’s such a Plain Jane.
Talking to Katie is never interesting. Work is important but that is all she talks about during the lunch break. I wish that she wasn’t such a Plain Jane.
b) clear
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c) lively, exciting
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