Roar

• By: Katy Perry
• Album: PRISM

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
bite /baɪt/ A2	verb - to use your teeth to cut into something or someone
breath /breθ/ A2	noun - the air that you take into your lungs and send out again
rock /rɒk/ A2	verb - to move gently backwards and forwards or from side to side
mess /mes/ B1	noun - a dirty or untidy state
choice /tʃɔɪs/ A2	noun - an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities
point /pɔɪnt/ A1	noun - the sharp or tapering end of something
dust /dʌst/ B1	noun - fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth or waste matter
voice /vɔɪs/ A1	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
thunder /ˈθʌndər/ B1	noun - a loud crashing or booming noise caused by the expansion of rapidly heated air around a lightning strike
shake /ʃeɪk/ A2	verb - to move (something) with short, quick movements
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the solid surface of the earth
eye /aɪ/ A1	noun - the organ of sight
tiger /ˈtaɪɡər/ A1	noun - a very large solitary cat with a coat of reddish-orange fur with black stripes, native to the forests of Asia
fighter /ˈfaɪtər/ B1	noun - a person who fights, especially one who fights bravely
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
champion /ˈtʃæmpiən/ B1	noun - a person who has defeated all rivals in a competition or sporting event.
roar /rɔːr/ B1	verb - (of a lion or other wild animal) utter a loud, deep, prolonged cry.
lion /ˈlaɪən/ A1	noun - a large tawny-colored cat that lives in Africa and northwest India. Males have a flowing mane.
butterfly /ˈbʌtərflaɪ/ A1	noun - a mainly day-flying insect with broad, colourful wings, typically held erect when at rest.
bee /biː/ A1	noun - a honeybee or other bee known for its honey or wax or for gathering pollen
stripes /straɪps/ A2	noun - a long narrow band or strip, typically differing in colour or texture from the surface on either side of it.
hero /ˈhɪroʊ/ A2	noun - a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

Grammar:

• I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath

  ➔ Used to + infinitive

  ➔ Expresses a past habit or state that is no longer true. Here, it indicates that the speaker *"used to"* bite her tongue, but doesn't anymore.

• Scared to rock the boat and make a mess

  ➔ Adjective + to + infinitive

  ➔ Describes the reason for the fear. The speaker was *"scared"* *"to rock the boat"*. In this pattern, the adjective describes a state of feeling, and the 'to + infinitive' explains the cause.

• I let you push me past the breaking point

  ➔ Let + object + base form of the verb (bare infinitive)

  ➔ "Let" is used as a causative verb, indicating permission or allowing something to happen. *"Let you push me"* means she allowed someone else to push her.

• You held me down, but I got up

  ➔ Past Simple, Contrast with 'but'

  ➔ The phrase demonstrates contrasting actions in the past. *"You held me down"* describes the action of being suppressed, while *"I got up"* shows the speaker's resilience and overcoming that suppression. The use of "but" strongly highlights the contradiction.

• Like thunder, gonna shake your ground

  ➔ Gonna (going to) - Future intention, Simile (Like)

  ➔ "Gonna" is a colloquial shortening of "going to", expressing future intention. "Like thunder" uses a simile to compare the speaker's voice to thunder, emphasizing its power and impact.

• Get ready cause I've had enough

  ➔ Imperative, because (cause)

  ➔ "Get ready" is an imperative, a direct command. "Cause" is an informal abbreviation of "because," providing the reason for the command, I've had enough.

• Now I'm floating like a butterfly

  ➔ Present Continuous, Simile

  ➔ "I'm floating" uses the present continuous to describe an action happening at the moment of speaking, suggesting a current state of ease and grace. The simile "like a butterfly" compares the speaker's movement to the light, effortless motion of a butterfly, enhancing the imagery of freedom and lightness.

• Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective, Simile, Past Simple

  ➔ "Stinging" is a present participle used as an adjective to describe the speaker's action. "Like a bee" is a simile, comparing the speaker's sharp actions to the sting of a bee. "I earned my stripes" is in the past simple, describing a completed action in the past, signifying accomplishment and experience.