scandal

Everyday

1. A scandal is something wrong or shameful that people find out about and are shocked by, such as a famous person lying or cheating. tree →
2. Scandal is talk and gossip about such things. tree →
3. (informal) "It's a scandal" means something is very unfair or wrong. tree →

In the lessons

Very common in news, tabloids and gossip. In media lessons, children learn that a scandal is often reported loudly and some details may be rumours. Phrases: «cause a scandal», «a political scandal», «a scandal broke», «caught up in a scandal», «It's a scandal that…».

Examples

• The scandal was on the front page of every newspaper. tree →
• The footballer was caught up in a cheating scandal. tree →
• It's a scandal that the park has no toilets. tree →
• The minister lost her job after the scandal. tree →
• Tabloids love scandal. tree →
• The village was buzzing with scandal about the missing cake. tree →
• When the scandal broke, the singer said sorry. tree →
• For fear of scandal he kept the matter quiet and searched everywhere he could think of, but all to no purpose. tree →

Note

Countable for one event («two scandals»), uncountable for gossip in general («full of scandal»). Adjective: scandalous; verb: scandalise/scandalize (shock). Not every rumour is a true scandal; check the facts.