affairs

Everyday

1. Matters or business, especially public or official ones: world affairs, foreign affairs, current affairs. tree →
2. Personal business and money matters: "She put her affairs in order." tree →
3. An event or situation, described in a certain way: "The party was a quiet affair." tree →
4. (adult life) A secret romantic relationship between two people when at least one of them is married to someone else. tree →

In the lessons

In news and citizenship lessons "current affairs" means the important things happening in the world now; governments have a minister of foreign affairs. "State of affairs" means the situation. In adult life seen by a child, "put his affairs in order" means sorting out money and a will, often before an operation or death. "Having an affair" is when a married person secretly has a boyfriend or girlfriend, which often hurts a family deeply. Phrases: current affairs, foreign affairs, state of affairs, mind your own affairs.

Examples

• We discuss current affairs every Friday in class. tree →
• The Minister for Foreign Affairs met the ambassador. tree →
• "This is a sorry state of affairs," sighed the teacher, looking at the messy room. tree →
• Before his operation, Grandad put his affairs in order. tree →
• My birthday was a small family affair. tree →
• Mind your own affairs! tree →
• In the story, the queen discovered the king was having an affair. tree →
• He took an active part in public affairs. tree →

Note

"Affairs" is the plural; "affair" is singular (an affair). Spelled with double f. Trap: "affair" (matter, event) is not "a fair" (a funfair). Plural "affairs" is used for public business (world affairs); singular "an affair" more often means one event or a secret relationship.

In Jewish tradition

In news and citizenship lessons "current affairs" means the important things happening in the world now; governments have a minister of foreign affairs. "State of affairs" means the situation. In adult life seen by a child, "put his affairs in order" means sorting out money and a will, often before an operation or death. "Having an affair" is when a married person secretly has a boyfriend or girlfriend, which often hurts a family deeply. Phrases: current affairs, foreign affairs, state of affairs, mind your own affairs.

Examples

• All the day they trouble mine affairs; all their thoughts are against me for evil. (Writings PSA.56.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Well is it with the man that dealeth graciously and lendeth, that ordereth his affairs rightfully. (Writings PSA.112.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel was in the gate of the king. (Writings DAN.2.49, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

"Affairs" is the plural; "affair" is singular (an affair). Spelled with double f. Trap: "affair" (matter, event) is not "a fair" (a funfair). Plural "affairs" is used for public business (world affairs); singular "an affair" more often means one event or a secret relationship.