1. stand up for
Definition: To defend or support someone or an idea when other people are against them.
She always stands up for her younger brother when other kids are mean to him.
You should stand up for your rights at work.
I respect him because he stands up for what he believes in.
2. in favour of
Definition: To support or agree with a plan, idea, or person.
Most people voted in favour of the new company rule.
Are you in favour of building a new hospital in our town?
I decided not to buy a car in favour of using public transport.
3. glance at
Definition: To look very quickly at someone or something.
He glanced at his watch to check the time.
She glanced at the menu and quickly ordered her food.
I only had time to glance at the document before the meeting started.
4. posh
Definition: Very expensive, fashionable, or typical of people from a high social class.
They stayed at a very posh hotel in the centre of London.
She speaks with a posh accent, so she sounds like she comes from a rich family.
We wore our best clothes because we went to a posh restaurant.
5. spoke up
Definition: The past tense of speak up. It means you gave your opinion about something, especially when you thought something was wrong.
During the meeting, she spoke up and said she had too much work.
No one else said anything, but he finally spoke up about the problem.
When she saw the man being rude, she spoke up to stop him.
6. bear in mind
Definition: To remember an important fact when you are making a decision or thinking about something.
Bear in mind that the traffic will be bad at five o'clock.
When planning your holiday, bear in mind that flights are more expensive in summer.
The phone is great, but bear in mind that the battery does not last long.
7. keep somebody in mind
Definition: To remember someone because they might be good for a job or opportunity in the future.
I will keep you in mind if a job opens at our company.
Please keep me in mind if you need help with your next project.
The boss kept him in mind for the manager position because he worked very hard.
From time to time, in the morning, while drinking my tea in bed, I watch my servant, Jeeves, moving quietly around the room. I often wonder what on earth I would do if he ever decided to abandon me. Jeeves is extraordinarily capable. I rely on him completely in every crisis, and he never lets me down. He is also always ready to assist any friend of mine who happens to be in a mess. Take the bizarre case, for example, of my good friend Bicky and his uncle.
It all happened during the time I was based in New York for a few months. I wasn’t able to head back to my flat until late one night. When I got in, Jeeves brought me a drink and stated that Mr. Bickersteth (Bicky) had visited twice, looking very anxious.
Things had been slightly tense between Jeeves and me lately. I had decided to grow a moustache, and Jeeves disliked it. He had made his objection clear. However, I felt a man must stand up for his right to his own facial hair, so I ignored him.
The next day, Bicky arrived looking miserable. "I'm in a dreadful situation, Bertie," he said. "My uncle, the Duke of Chiswick, has just turned up in New York."
Now, you might assume having a Duke for an uncle is fascinating. However, the Duke of Chiswick was extraordinarily wealthy but very mean. He was what Americans call a "hard-boiled egg"—tough and unwilling to give any of his money away. Bicky had no money of his own and relied entirely on a small monthly payment from his uncle.
Bicky outlined the problem. "My uncle told me he would keep paying provided that I moved to Colorado to learn farming. I was not in favour of the idea. I hate horses and cows. So, I stayed in New York and deceived him. I told him I had set up a very successful business here. He was taken in! But now he insists on staying with me to save money on hotel bills. I can't let him see my rubbish accommodation. What am I going to do?"
I glanced at Jeeves. "Any ideas, Jeeves?"
"If I may suggest, sir," Jeeves said smoothly, "you could lend Mr. Bickersteth this flat. He can pretend it is his. I will pretend to be his servant, and you will simply be his guest."
Bicky looked at Jeeves with absolute amazement. "That is a brilliant idea!"
The next morning, the Duke of Chiswick turned up. He was a bad-tempered older man who immediately started protesting about the cost of New York taxis. When he saw my flat, he was astonished.
"Does this posh flat belong to my nephew?" he asked, looking around in disbelief.
"Absolutely," I replied cheerfully. "He is doing very well in business."
Later that evening, when I returned to the flat to dress for dinner, Jeeves gave me some negative news.
"The plan has not worked out perfectly, sir," Jeeves said.
"Why not? Isn't the Duke convinced Bicky is a successful businessman?"
"He believes it completely, sir. As a result, he has decided to cut off Mr. Bickersteth's monthly payment. He says Bicky is doing so well that he no longer needs financial assistance."
I was in shock. When the Duke went to bed, I found Bicky sitting in the dark, in complete despair.
"I'm ruined, Bertie," he cried. "I need money. I wanted to start a chicken farm. Do you know how much money you can make from eggs? It's a fortune! But I have no savings to buy the first hens."
"I can lend you the money," I offered.
"No," Bicky said firmly. "I will not borrow from my friends."
All of a sudden, Jeeves emerged from the shadows. "If I may suggest a solution, sir? We have not considered his Grace, the Duke, as a source of income. Americans are very fond of shaking hands with significant people. Perhaps people would pay a small fee—say, two or three dollars—for the opportunity of meeting a genuine English Duke."
Bicky was uncertain, but I thought it was a superb idea. We left the details to Jeeves.
However, selling tickets to meet the Duke was much more tricky than we expected. By the end of the week, we had almost given up. Then, Jeeves brought us some incredible news.
"I have arranged for eighty-seven gentlemen to meet his Grace tomorrow afternoon, sir."
"Eighty-seven!" I cried. "Where did you come across them?"
"I met a gentleman at the theatre last night," Jeeves explained. "He is part of a large group visiting from a town called Birdsburg, Missouri. They are very eager to meet a genuine Duke. We agreed on a total price of one hundred and fifty dollars for the group."
"Jeeves, you are exceptional!" I said.
The next day, Bicky told his uncle that a few "friends" were coming over. The Duke agreed to meet them, on condition that there were no newspaper reporters present.
The men from Birdsburg arrived in groups of ten. They shook hands with the Duke enthusiastically. Everything was going perfectly until one serious-looking man spoke up.
"Excuse me," the man said. "This is a matter of business. We are paying good money for this, and we want a guarantee. How do we have proof this man is really the Duke of Chiswick?"
The Duke turned furious. "What do you mean, sir?"
Another man stepped forward. "We arranged with Mr. Bickersteth to pay one hundred and fifty dollars to meet a Duke. But we only have his word that you are who you say you are."
The Duke stared at Bicky. "Is this true? Have you been charging these people money to meet me?"
"Yes, Uncle," Bicky confessed quietly.
The Duke immediately asked the Americans to leave, and then turned to Bicky.
"You deceived me!" the Duke shouted. "You have no successful business!"
I tried to justify what had happened and explained that he just wanted some money to start a chicken farm.
"I will not give him a single penny!" the Duke yelled angrily
At that moment, Jeeves coughed politely from the doorway. "If I might make a proposal, sir? If Mr. Bickersteth needs money, he could easily sell the story of what happened this afternoon to a Sunday newspaper. The press would pay very well for a funny story about a Duke."
Bicky's eyes lit up. "Jeeves is right! I'll do it! The newspapers will love this."
The Duke shouted in horror. "I absolutely forbid it! You cannot ruin my reputation!"
"If I can't get the money any other way..." Bicky said confidently.
"Wait!" the Duke panicked. "We can arrange something. If you return to England with me, I will give you a post as my secretary."
"For five hundred pounds a year," Bicky demanded.
"That is too much!"
" Bear in mind the chicken farm," Bicky said, smiling. "With five hundred pounds, I could buy hundreds of hens."
The Duke looked defeated. "Very well," he sighed.
That evening, after Bicky and his uncle went out to celebrate, I turned to Jeeves.
"Jeeves, that was an outstanding effort. You saved the day again."
"Thank you, sir," Jeeves replied.
"The only problem is, you didn't get any reward for your hard work."
"I am sure Mr. Bickersteth will keep me in mind in the future, sir."
I looked at Jeeves. It was a tough decision, but I knew what I had to do to thank him properly.
"Jeeves," I said boldly, "bring my shaving things. I am going to shave off my moustache."
For a moment, there was silence. I could see Jeeves was deeply touched.
"Thank you very much indeed, sir," he said quietly, and rushed off to fetch the razor.
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