British language help

[tiggerlover]

Hi all! I received a letter from a British friend of mine and I have a question about two things. Can someone tell me what a gap year is and also what the word chuffed means. I would greatly appreciate the assistance. Thanks.

 

[charlottebetty]

tiggerlover

chuffed means pleased with yourself/ happy about something thats happened. I was chuffed to see mickey mouse in the parade. I was chuffed to pass the exam. Hope this helps.

 

[Hilary]

... and we're chuffed to be able to help with your question

A Gap Year is a year out of education / work, usually taken by young people either between their final year of school and starting at university, or after their final year at university and before starting their life of paid employment. Less often, it's a year (the time-scale is a nominal 'year' but can be any length of time really) taken out of employment later in life.

Gap years have become increasingly popular here over the last 15 years or so, and are now considered quite normal! One of the favoured ways to spend the year is to travel, working along the way to pay for the next fare, and making the most of being able to enjoy freedom from responsibilities for as long as you can!

Do Italians have the same thing, tiggerlover?