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# the change

phrase (noun phrase, «the change», also «the change of life»); «change» is also a noun and verb (change, changes, changed, changing)

«the change» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, old-fashioned) the menopause: the time in a woman's middle age when her monthly periods stop for good.
2. (ordinary, not a euphemism) the money you get back when you pay more than the price.
3. (ordinary) the act of something becoming different.

### In the lessons

Older people said «the change» to avoid naming a private body matter out loud; polite and old-fashioned, used in all English-speaking countries, often in hushed family talk or gossip. Today doctors and many people simply say «menopause». In maths lessons «change» almost always means money given back: price paid minus price.

### Examples

- (gossip) Aunt May's been very hot and cross lately — Mum says it's the change.
- My grandmother called it "going through the change".
- (health leaflet) Hot flushes are common during the menopause, sometimes called the change.
- (maths) I paid with a £5 note for a £3.20 sandwich, so my change was £1.80.
- (shop) "Keep the change," Dad told the taxi driver.
- (everyday) The change in the weather surprised everyone.
- (chat) my mum blames everything on the change now lol

### Note

Trap: in a maths problem «the change» is money back (subtract: paid − cost), never the menopause. Only grown-up talk about a woman's age uses the euphemism, and it can sound vague or embarrassed. «Change» as money is uncountable: «some change», not «a change».