mascot

Everyday

1. A person, animal or object that a team, school or club keeps because it is believed to bring good luck. tree →
2. A character, often a person in a big furry costume, that stands for a team, event, company or product and entertains people. tree →
3. A small toy or figure kept for luck, for example in a car or a pencil case. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and sport, football and school teams have mascots who dance on the pitch, and the Olympics and World Cup have official mascots. In schools, a class mascot (often a soft toy) goes home with a different child each weekend, who then writes about its adventures. In stories, a mascot can be a brave dog or a lucky cat on a ship. Phrases: team mascot, school mascot, class mascot, lucky mascot.

Examples

• Our team mascot is a giant bear. tree →
• The school mascot is a lion called Leo. tree →
• This weekend I took the class mascot home and wrote in its diary. tree →
• The mascot waved to the crowd before the match. tree →
• Every Olympic Games has its own mascot. tree →
• The ship's cat was the sailors' lucky mascot. tree →
• She kept a little mascot in her pencil case for the test. tree →

Note

Countable: a mascot, mascots. Pronounced MASS-kot. Myth: a mascot does not really bring luck; it is a fun tradition and a team symbol.