Fire or dismiss?

[RoseSpring]

Do you say:

a) Dismiss/ fire/expel someone from his job;

especially as a nany or governess ?

b) Being attached/related/ close to someone ?

c) A governess or a babysitter?

 

[emsr2d2]

Do you say:

a) Dismiss/ fire/expel someone from his job;

especially as a nany or governess ?

b) Being attached/related/ close to someone ?

c) A governess or a babysitter?

a) To fire and to dismiss mean the same thing when you're talking about a job. It doesn't matter what that job is.

b) Attached/related/close to mean 3 different things. If you're attached to someone it means that you have an important relationship with them. If you're related, then you are part of the same family. If you're close to them, you're very good friends and probably know a lot about each other.

c) A governess and a babysitter are entirely different. A governess is a rather old-fashioned term but it meant a woman who was employed to teach a child in the home instead of, or in addition to, at school. A babysitter is simply someone who comes to your house and looks after your child while you're out for a short period of time. Someone who lives in your house and looks after your children is either a nanny or an au pair.

 

[RoseSpring]

For example the woman who came in The Sound of Music to stay in the house and teach the children is a nany?

 

[emsr2d2]

For example the woman who came in The Sound of Music to stay in the house and teach the children is a nany?

The film was made in the 60s and her character is generally referred to as a governess. That makes sense because she didn't just look after the children, she was also their teacher. That is really what makes the difference - a nanny simply cares for the children, a governess teaches them.