Do as I say, not as I do

Nobody likes a hypocrite, and it's often used as an insult.

A group of people appear to be insulting this girl.

harsh = stern and unkind

The definition of stern is someone who is very serious or strict.

compassionate = showing sympathy and concern

catch somebody out = discover somebody has made a mistake

being angry about something according to principles of right and wrong

An indignant boy.

incongruous not in agreement with

pernicious = deadly or destructive

An example of pernicious is the devastating effects of intense drug use.

Smokiing is pernicious

Rob, aren't you a supporter of the movement to preserve the environment?

A gas-guzzling car for an environmentalist, Rob? Isn't that a contradiction – aren't you being a hypocrite?

greedy eating or drinking

Fuel is very expensive in Poland.

Do you see yourself as my sister? She used to pick on me.

They have to express opinions about so many things that it's easy to catch them out being hypocritical... – and then we, the public, get morally indignant about it.

and then we, the public, get morally indignant about it.

But their public views may be incongruous – or not in agreement with – their personal views.

And the difference between their public and personal views can be pernicious - it means deadly or destructive.

Politicians are under scrutiny all the time – their personal lives, their public statements

Scrutiny is a careful watch or close examination. An example of scrutiny is a father asking a ton of questions to the date his daughter brought home.

here is a negative comment from the local conservationists

the great orator Demosthenes ridiculed a rival politician