2015-10-25 Silver Bullet, a Magic Cure-all
From VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories. I’m Anna Matteo and today I’m going to solve all your problems. With a silver bullet. If you don’t believe…
2015-11-01 Evil Expressions
Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. In an earlier program, we talked a lot about the Devil. In many religions, the Devil is the most powerful spirit…
2015-10-11 Weasel, Duck, Dog: Animals That Are Also Verbs
A few months ago, I told Anna Matteo I would write a Words and Their Stories program about animals that are also verbs. But I failed to keep my promise.…
2015-09-27 Besties, Buds, BFFs … Friends!
Now, the VOA Learning program Words and Their Stories. Language changes over time. Many words and expressions have changed over the centuries. But the word “friend” has stayed the same.…
2015-10-04 Know Your Enemy
Hello and welcome to the Voice of American Learning English program Words and Their Stories. Do you have an enemy? Hopefully, you don’t. An enemy is someone who hates you…
2015-09-20 Let’s Play the Brain Game
Hello and welcome to the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. I’m Anna Matteo and today we are going to talk about the brain! We all know what…
2015-09-06 Feel the Pinch
Hello, I’m Anna Matteo with the Learning English program Words and Their Stories. In the 1930s, a song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” was very popular in the United…
2015-08-30 Are You Too Smart for Your Own Good?
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. Today we take a look at the word “smart.” If someone says you are smart, what do they mean? Is…
2015-08-23 More Latin for Your English!
From VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories. Today we continue our discussion of common Latin words and expressions in American English. This is not an impromptu discussion.…
2015-08-16 Improve Your English with Latin!
From VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories. Many people say not enough Americans speak a foreign language. A contrario! (On the contrary!) Americans use many Latin phrases,…
2015-08-09 Mortgage and Other ‘Death’ Words
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. Part of the “American Dream” is to own a home. Many Americans borrow money when they buy a home. They…
2015-08-02 Let’s Go on a Space Trip!
For this Words and Their Stories, we leave Earth and travel deep in space. “… five … four … three … two … one …” Let’s join two astronauts who…
2015-07-26 ‘You’re Giving Me the Creeps!’
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. Americans can sometimes begin a sentence with the words “You’re giving me.” This expression usually describes a person’s reaction to…
2015-07-19 OK, Okay, Okey-Dokey Are A-Okay
Now, the VOA Learning English program, Words and Their Stories. Millions of people all over the world use the word okay. In fact, some people say the word is used…
2015-07-12 What Is That Thing Called?
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. It has happened to all of us. You want to talk about an object, but you forgot the name of…