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Words and Their Stories - VOA Learning English

VOA Learning English 50 episodes Latest Mar 13, 2025

Words and Their Stories is a program from VOA Learning English that explains idioms and expressions commonly used in American English. Each episode breaks down the meaning and origin of phrases, helping learners understand and use them correctly. The podcast is designed for English language learners who want to improve their vocabulary and comprehension of everyday American speech.

Episodes

What Does It Mean 'To Mushroom'? - March 13, 2025 Mar 13, 2025 00:03:23

'Watching the Grass Grow' Is Not Fun - March 11, 2025 Mar 11, 2025 00:03:19

Green Means Spring and Other Things - March 07, 2025 Mar 7, 2025 00:05:14

How to 'Dish Up' Something Good - February 27, 2025 Feb 27, 2025 00:03:41

The Importance of Being ‘Dialed In’ - February 20, 2025 Feb 20, 2025 00:04:01

Don't Miss a Thing With 'Eagle Eyes' - February 13, 2025 Feb 13, 2025 00:05:50

What Does It Take to Be a 'Power Couple'? - February 05, 2025 Feb 5, 2025 00:04:34

Protecting Apple Trees from Climate Change - January 31, 2025 Jan 31, 2025 00:06:13

‘Kitchen-Table’ Is a Type of Politics - January 30, 2025 Jan 30, 2025 00:04:28

Sometimes We 'Spread Ourself Too Thin' - January 20, 2025 Jan 20, 2025 00:03:29

Knee Jerk and Gut Reactions: When We Are Not in Control - January 16, 2025 Jan 16, 2025 00:04:51

The Story of Jack Frost - January 10, 2025 Jan 10, 2025 00:05:33

'Kicking Off' a New Year - January 02, 2025 Jan 2, 2025 00:06:19

Expressions for New Year's Resolution - December 23, 2024 Dec 23, 2024 00:05:18

Expressions That ‘Stop You Cold’ - December 11, 2024 Dec 11, 2024 00:04:52

For Words of the Year: Brat, Brain Rot, Polarization - December 10, 2024 Dec 10, 2024 00:06:53

'Show Your Hand', other Card Idioms - December 05, 2024 Dec 5, 2024 00:05:18

What Does ‘Like Gangbusters’ Mean? - November 27, 2024 Nov 27, 2024 00:05:05

Learn 'Rub Elbows,' Other 'Rub' Expressions - November 20, 2024 Nov 20, 2024 00:06:15

What Does It Mean to 'Hit Pay Dirt' - November 14, 2024 Nov 14, 2024 00:04:15

Have You Ever Felt the ‘Long Arm of the Law?’ - November 07, 2024 Nov 7, 2024 00:04:15

For When You Do Something Wrong: Mea Culpa - October 31, 2024 Oct 31, 2024 00:03:51

Exploring the 'Butterfly Effect' - October 24, 2024 Oct 24, 2024 00:04:42

Expressions Using Our Head and Shoulders - October 17, 2024 Oct 17, 2024 00:05:31

When in Rome … - October 10, 2024 Oct 10, 2024 00:05:06

Is ‘Pie in the Sky’ Just a Dream? - October 03, 2024 Oct 3, 2024 00:04:51

Keep Your Nose to the Grindstone - September 26, 2024 Sep 26, 2024 00:06:02

How to Use "Swimming" to Deal with Life's Situations - September 19, 2024 Sep 19, 2024 00:05:25

What Is Your 'North Star'? - September 13, 2024 Sep 13, 2024 00:05:02

‘Dead Giveaway’ Is Not as Dark as It Sounds - September 05, 2024 Sep 5, 2024 00:04:27

An Eye for an Eye - August 29, 2024 Aug 29, 2024 00:04:25

Reaching the 'Tipping Point' - August 22, 2024 Aug 22, 2024 00:03:47

Sometimes Help Is Just 'A Phone Call Away' - August 16, 2024 Aug 16, 2024 00:05:23

One Person's Trash Is Another Person's Treasure - August 08, 2024 Aug 8, 2024 00:04:33

When Is Two Too Many? When It's a 'Double Whammy'! - August 01, 2024 Aug 1, 2024 00:04:49

Let's Talk about 'Going South' - July 25, 2024 Jul 25, 2024 00:05:13

Be Careful What You 'Bank On' - July 18, 2024 Jul 18, 2024 00:04:41

What Gives You 'Food for Thought'? - July 11, 2024 Jul 11, 2024 00:04:22

Partners in Crime - July 05, 2024 Jul 5, 2024 00:05:19

Learn Some 'Wave' Expressions - June 27, 2024 Jun 27, 2024 00:06:52

It’s Showtime! - June 20, 2024 Jun 20, 2024 00:04:48

Being 'Put Through the Wringer' Is Not Fun - June 13, 2024 Jun 13, 2024 00:04:23

Are You Strong 'Out of the Gate'? - June 07, 2024 Jun 7, 2024 00:04:06

Be Bold. 'Break the Mold'! - May 31, 2024 May 31, 2024 00:04:20

Many Handy 'Hand' Expressions - May 22, 2024 May 22, 2024 00:06:46

Ways to 'Divide and Conquer' - May 17, 2024 May 17, 2024 00:05:23

It's Time to 'Separate the Wheat from the Chaff' - May 10, 2024 May 10, 2024 00:04:24

What Good Comes from 'Casting a Wide Net'? - May 03, 2024 May 3, 2024 00:05:21

To Pull or Not to Pull Punches - April 25, 2024 Apr 25, 2024 00:06:08

Are You the Windshield or the Bug? - April 19, 2024 Apr 19, 2024 00:04:46

Words and Their Stories - VOA Learning English

Episodes

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