babysitter

Everyday

1. A babysitter is a person who looks after children in their home while the parents are out, usually for a few hours and often for money. tree →
2. (informal) Something that keeps children busy so adults can rest, like a TV used as «a babysitter». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, older teenagers or adults babysit in the evening; there are rules for the children and the babysitter (bedtime, emergency numbers, who can visit). In safety lessons, children learn that a babysitter should know where the first-aid kit is and how to call 911/999/000/111/112. Phrases: «get a babysitter», «call the babysitter», «a babysitting job».

Examples

• Our babysitter reads us stories before bed. tree →
• Mum and Dad hired a babysitter for Saturday night. tree →
• The babysitter has the emergency phone numbers. tree →
• My cousin earns money as a babysitter. tree →
• The babysitter said bedtime was eight o'clock. tree →
• Be polite to the babysitter. tree →
• Can you be our babysitter on Friday? tree →
• The TV shouldn't be your babysitter all day. tree →

Note

Written as one word (babysitter) or with a hyphen (baby-sitter). Verb: babysit, babysat, babysitting. A babysitter can look after children of any age, not only babies. Emergency numbers: US/Canada 911, UK/Ireland 999 or 112, Australia 000, New Zealand 111.