2020-04-19 Learn the Cause of ‘Cabin Fever’
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. Today, we are going to talk about being trapped indoors for a long period of time. Sometimes we are stuck…
2020-04-12 ‘Breathing Room’ Reduces Stress
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. If you are feeling nervous or stressed, a simple thing can help. Take a deep breath. Deep breathing can calm…
2020-04-05 Where ‘Quarantine’ Comes From
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. In human history, the spread of infectious diseases to mass numbers of people is not uncommon. Pandemics, historians say, started…
2020-03-29 We Can Thank Cows for ‘Vaccine’
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. The spread of dangerous diseases around the world is not new. As trade and colonization expanded worldwide over hundreds of…
2020-03-22 ‘When the Cat’s Away, the Mice Will Play!’
Now, it’s time for Words and Their Stories, a program from VOA Learning English. The internet has taught us many things. One important lesson is this: Cats are funny, strange…
2020-03-15 ‘An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure’
And now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. Sometimes in life, you need to act quickly. Thinking too much about a problem does not always help. It…
2020-03-08 ‘Beware the Ides of March’
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. People who believe in luck and bad luck — that is to say, those considered superstitious – may think that…
2020-03-01 If You Are Feeling Blue, Are You Calm, Strong, or Sad?
Now, it’s time for Words and Their Stories — our weekly program about common, everyday expressions in American English. Usually, we talk about words and phrases that Americans use without…
2020-02-23 Why Is 2020 Called a Leap Year?
Now, it’s time for Words and Their Stories — our weekly program about common, everyday expressions in American English. Today we are talking about the somewhat unusual day of February…
2020-02-16 Wearing Clothes Made From Goat Hair, and Other Ways to Show You Are Sorry
Now it’s time for Words and Their Stories — our weekly program about common, everyday expressions in American English. During the next few weeks, many people in South America will…
2020-02-09 Single on Valentine’s Day? Lucky
Now, it’s time for Words and Their Stories — our weekly program about common, everyday expressions in American English. This month, a lot of Americans are talking about pairs or…
2019-12-22 Don’t ‘Bite Off More Than You Can Chew’
Now, it’s time for Words and Their Stories — a program from VOA Learning English. Each week, we tell the story of words and expressions used in American English. Some…
2020-02-02 ‘Stir-Crazy’ Is Not a Way of Cooking
Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. Today we talk about a common expression made from two common words — stir and crazy. Put them together and you…
2020-01-26 Quit or Join the ‘Rat Race’?
Now Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. Rats. They are not among nature’s most loved animals. However, rats help humans in many ways. They have been tested and…
2020-01-23 What Is Pettifogging?
The little-known word “pettifogging” was used during a 1905 impeachment trial of a judge. This week, Chief Justice John Roberts used it again during the impeachment trial of U.S. President…