2009-03-22 Take This Medicine: The Story of the Sign ‘Rx’
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Every week at this time, the Voice of America tells about popular words and expressions used in the United States.…
2009-03-15 Apple Pie Order: When Everything is Just Perfect
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Today we tell about the expression, “apple pie order.” It means in perfect order, very well organized. Nobody is sure…
2009-03-08 Back to Basics: Staying Down to Earth
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Every week at this time, we tell about popular American words and expressions. Some of these are very old. Some…
2009-03-01 Proverbs: Some Listeners’ Favorite Sayings
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. A proverb is a short, well known saying that expresses a common truth or belief. Many proverbs give advice about…
2009-02-21 Heard It on the Grapevine: What? Who Told You That?
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories. (MUSIC) Some of the most exciting information comes by way of the grapevine. That is so because reports received through…
2009-02-15 Have a Heart
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. I’m Rich Kleinfeldt with some expressions using the word heart. People believed for a long time that the heart was…
2009-02-08 To Buffalo: To Win by Trick or Threat
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Today we tell about two words that are close in meaning. One is to buffalo. The other is to bulldoze.…
2009-02-01 Belittle: Thomas Jefferson First Used This Word
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories. Today’s word is belittle. It was first used by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. Many years…
2008-12-28 Hang: Don’t Get Excited, Just Hang Loose
Now, the Special English program, Words and Their Stories. (MUSIC) Hang is a simple word. But there are many meanings for hang. Especially when it is used with other words.…
2009-01-25 Holding the Bag
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Different people have different ways of saying things – their own special expressions. Each week we tell about some…
2009-01-18 Touching All Bases: Baseball Rules
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories. (MUSIC) American English is full of colorful expressions. One such expression is to touch all bases. It comes from the…
2009-01-11 Circus: Some Agree It Is the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’
Now, the Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Circus is a word with a long, interesting history. It is a Latin word that means “ring” or “circle.” One…
2009-01-04 Baloney: It’s Just Not True
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories. (MUSIC) Baloney is a kind of sausage that many Americans eat often. The word also has another meaning in English.…
2008-12-21 Proverbs: Famous Sayings About Love, War and Other Issues
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Today we talk about proverbs. A proverb is a short, well known saying that expresses a common truth or belief.…
2008-12-17 Easy Expressions: As Easy as Falling off a Log / A Piece of Cake /As Easy as Shooting Fish in a Barrel
Now, the VOA Special English program “Words and Their Stories”. Every people has its own way of saying things, its own special expressions. Some of these expressions are easy to…