CJ Hobgood in action at the Billabong Pro Tahiti surfing competition in Tahiti. Photo: AP
Today's Phrase
If someone or something 'makes waves' it means they make an impression or cause trouble.
For example:
The footballer is making waves. I think a lot of people are shocked by his comments.
This news story is really making waves this week. Everyone is talking about it.
In the conference, he talked about the gadgets that made waves last year.
Don't confuse it with
If you 'wave goodbye to something', you accept you will lose something you value, or not obtain something you want.
For example:
I'm always late for work at the moment. I think I can wave goodbye to a pay rise this year!
If you want to get top grades, you can wave goodbye to your social life - you'll have to study every night.
Interesting fact
Early surfing boards were made out of solid wood and were extremely difficult to steer. In the 1930s American surfer Tom Blake made a lighter, hollow board and added a fin under the tail, which meant that surfers could control the board better. Since then, new materials like fibreglass have been used to gradually make boards lighter and more manoeuvrable.
