rep

Everyday

1. (informal) A rep is short for a representative: a person chosen to speak or act for a group, like a class rep or a school council rep. tree →
2. (informal) A rep is a salesperson who visits customers for a company: a sales rep. tree →
3. (informal) In exercise, a rep (repetition) is doing a movement once: ten reps of sit-ups. tree →
4. (slang) Rep is short for reputation: he has a rep for being funny. tree →
5. (informal) Rep is short for repertory theatre. tree →

In the lessons

In school, pupils vote for «class reps» or «school council reps» to share their classmates' ideas with teachers; it is a small taste of elections. In PE, «reps» and «sets» organise exercises: 3 sets of 10 reps. In maths, «10 reps in each of 3 sets» means 30 in all. Phrases: «class rep», «sales rep», «reps and sets», «get a rep for».

Examples

• I was voted class rep this year. tree →
• The school council reps met the head teacher. tree →
• Do three sets of ten reps. tree →
• A sales rep came to show the new books. tree →
• (slang) He's got a rep for being late. tree →
• Our rep asked for more benches in the playground. tree →

Note

All informal short forms; in formal writing use «representative», «repetition» or «reputation». Plural «reps». Maths: total = sets × reps per set.