Smooth Operator

• By: Sade

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
diamond /ˈdaɪ.ə.mənd/ B2	noun - a precious stone, typically colorless, used in jewelry
lover /ˈlʌv.ər/ A2	noun - a person who loves someone
space /speɪs/ A1	noun - the area that is free, available, or unoccupied
joy /dʒɔɪ/ A2	noun - a feeling of great pleasure and happiness
business /ˈbɪz.nɪs/ B1	noun - the activity of making, buying, or selling goods or providing services
hearts /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ in your chest that sends the blood around your body
desire /dɪˈzaɪər/ B2	noun - a strong feeling of wanting something verb - to strongly wish for or want something
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or point in space
start /stɑːrt/ A1	verb - to begin or commence
smooth /smuːð/ B2	adjective - having a surface free from roughness or bumps
operator /ˈɒp.ə.reɪ.tər/ B2	noun - a person who operates equipment or a machine
license /ˈlaɪ.səns/ B2	noun - a permit from an authority to own or do something
insurance /ɪnˈʃʊr.əns/ B2	noun - a contract for protection against loss or damage
memories /ˈmem.ər.iz/ B1	noun - the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, or recalling or recognizing previous experiences
gold /ɡoʊld/ A2	noun - a yellow precious metal used for making jewelry and coins
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of sight
cold /koʊld/ A2	adjective - having a low temperature

Grammar:

• We move in space with minimum waste

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase of Manner

  ➔ The phrase "with minimum waste" describes *how* the movement occurs. It indicates the manner in which they move.

• When you require streetcar desire

  ➔ Subordinate Clause of Time (when)

  ➔ "When you require streetcar desire" functions as an adverbial clause, modifying the main clause (which is implied in the context). It sets the time *when* the following action takes place.

• No place for beginners or sensitive hearts

  ➔ Parallel Structure with "or"

  ➔ "beginners" and "sensitive hearts" are nouns (or noun phrases) connected by "or", creating a parallel structure. This emphasizes the two types of people who don't belong in this situation.

• When sentiment is left to chance

  ➔ Passive Voice ("is left")

  ➔ The passive voice "is left" indicates that sentiment is not actively being chosen, but rather it *receives* the action of being left to chance. The agent (who/what leaves sentiment to chance) is not specified.

• No place to be ending but somewhere to start

  ➔ Infinitive Phrases as Adjectives

  ➔ The phrases "to be ending" and "to start" are infinitive phrases functioning as adjectives modifying "place" and "somewhere" respectively. They describe the *purpose* or *function* of the place.

• His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold

  ➔ Simile ("like angels") contrasted with a stark statement

  ➔ The line uses a simile ("like angels") to create an initial impression of innocence or purity. This is then immediately contrasted with the blunt statement "his heart is cold", highlighting the operator's deceptive nature.

• Melts all your memories and change into gold

  ➔ Ellipsis (Subject Omission)

  ➔ The sentence implies the subject "he" (smooth operator) for both verbs, "melts" and "change". Ellipsis makes the language more concise and rhythmically appropriate for a song.