Thursday, February 6, 2014

Fit in...

If someone "fits in", they feel that they belong or are comfortable in a certain group, class, neighborhood, culture, nation etc. They identify with the people in that particular group or have a lot in common with them. It also depends on how someone is accepted into a group.

1. “Birds of a feather flock together”, is a popular expression meaning that people who have similar characteristics, appearance, nationalities, speak the same language, have the same interests or professions etc., tend to gravitate towards one another in society, the workplace, or a small group… because they feel that they fit in easier or are more accepted or understood.

2. Are there any communities in Brazil where it would be difficult for an “outsider” to fit in, even if that person was Brazilian? Are there many immigrant communities here?

3. I didn't feel like I fit in in my drivers’ license theory class. Most of the other students were kids half my age…

4. Do you think it's possible to fit into a group of people when you can't speak their language?

5. In many parts of the United States, it must be very difficult for Muslims or Arabs to fit in, simply because there is racial stereotyping due to recent and past events that have rocked the United States.

6. If you feel very uncomfortable in any environment or situation and are having difficulty fitting in, you are probably feeling like a fish out of water.

7. Are you part of the circle of friends that you feel you don't fit in with anymore?

8. Do you work with someone who feels they don't fit in? Are they trying hard to be accepted? Do you fit in at your workplace? If you want to encourage someone who is new to your workplace, you can say to them, “I think you’ll fit in here just fine!"

9. Do you think Tiririca (a clown who became a congressman) fits in as a congressman? Does he have much in common with the other politicians? Would you yourself fit in as a politician?

10. When teenagers and young adults try to fit in and be accepted, many times they may behave in a way that they don’t usually. When friends cause a person to act in any negative way, or a way they wouldn't ordinarily behave, it is called peer pressure.

11. Give me some good advice: What can I do, as a foreigner, to fit in really well in your country?


4 comments :

  1. In spite of living in Germany for more than 3 years and being able to speak their language fluently, I still feel that I don't fit in here.

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    Replies
    1. Probably because "there's no place like home."

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  2. In spite of the examples above, I am not sure when to use fit in and fit into. Do we use fit into when referiing to a specific group?

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  3. That's not an easy question to answer! Usually "into" would signify movement... "Kick the ball into the goal." The above example is not in the same category. I don't have a very smart answer for you except to say that it is not common to use "into" with the phrasal verb, "fit in". It's more of a unique situation. I don't know if there is a rule or observation that applies here. I can also tell you that in the example I gave, you could also substitute with the preposition, "with".

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