<B>The British Council?s language clinic with ?Dr Danny?</B>

Hello and welcome once again to the English Language Clinic. What is a ?soap opera?? First used in the 1930s, this term describes a particular type of drama, broadcast in regular episodes, on television or radio. The distinguishing characteristic of ?soaps? (as they informally known) is that the various plots which go to make them up are constantly developing, as one comes to an end, another begins. They are known as ?soap operas? because the original sponsors of the shows were soap manufacturers. The plots of ?soap operas? are usually full of emotion, suspense and intrigue. This has led to the term being used to describe events or activities which are believed to share these characteristics: ?Her family life is a ?soap opera?.?

The soap sold by the early sponsors of such ?operas? was often packaged in wooden boxes or small crates. As these boxes were both strong and light, they provided a perfect platform upon which to stand if you wished to raise yourself above a crowd of people to give a speech.

In fact, soap boxes were so commonly used for such a purpose that, from around the end of the eighteen hundreds, anyone giving an impromptu (unplanned) speech was said to be ?on his/her soapbox?. The expression is now used to describe someone who enthusiastically attempts to spontaneously share their political beliefs with an (often uninterested) audience.

It is sometimes the case that those who are ?on their soapbox? become quite emotional and, on rare occasions, resort to swearing, cursing and uttering profanities. If a child were to use similar language, their parents might threaten to ?wash their mouth out with soap and water?.

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