2008-10-26 What Does the Average Joe Think?
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories. A person’s name is very important. Some names also have special meanings in popular American expressions. To better understand what…
2008-10-19 Who Put Lipstick on That Pig?
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Americans often use expressions about animals. In two thousand eight, the main candidates for president each used this expression:…
2008-10-13 American Election Expressions
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. The presidential election in the United States is November fourth. So we hear a lot of people using expressions about…
2008-09-21 Let’s Get Down to Brass Tacks
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Our expression today is “getting down to brass tacks.” It means to get serious about something, to get to the…
2008-08-25 Fall Guy: He Took the Blame for Someone Else
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Every week at this time, the Voice of America tells about popular words and expressions used in the United…
2008-08-18 Doughboy: Military Expressions
This is Phil Murray with WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, a program in Special English on the Voice of America. We tell about some common expressions in American English. (MUSIC) A…
2008-08-11 Eureka: The Word Just Burst Out
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Our word today is eureka. It is a kind of word called an expletive. Expletives are quick, short outcries…
2008-07-28 Pan: The Critic Panned My Work
NOW, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Today’s word, pan, takes us back to the days of the gold rush in California. (MUSIC) On January twenty-fourth, eighteen…
2008-07-21 Ace in the Hole: Put on Your Poker Face
Now, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, a program in Special English by the Voice of America. (MUSIC) It is surprising how many expressions that Americans use every day came from the…
2008-07-07 Bigwig: Such an Important Person
Now, the Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Some expressions describe people who are important, or at least who think they are. One such expression is, bigwig. In…
2008-06-30 Fish Expressions: This All Sounds Very Fishy
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Americans use many expressions about fish and fishing. For example, if something sounds fishy, it may not be true.…
2008-06-23 Bird Words: Someone Who Eats Like a Bird Eats Very Little
Now, the VOA Special English program, \WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Today we explain some expressions about birds. For example, if something is for the birds, it is worthless or…
2008-06-15 Words and Their Stories: It’s Not Worth a Hill of Beans
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) In the early days of human history, people survived by hunting wild animals, or gathering wild grains and plants…
2008-06-09 More Numbers: Two Heads Are Better Than One
Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Last week, I told about the number one. Today, I will tell about expressions using other numbers. Some problems…
2008-06-01 Numbers: I, for One, Use These Expressions Often
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) Today I will tell about expressions using numbers. Let us start with the number one. Numbers can be tricky.…