Words and Their Stories - VOA Learning English artwork

Words and Their Stories - VOA Learning English

258 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 17 hours ago - ★★★★ - 24 ratings

Words and Their Stories programs explain idioms and expressions that many learners of American English find difficult to understand.

Language Learning Education
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Episodes

What Are Your ‘True Colors’? - March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024 19:55 - 5 minutes - 4.69 MB

When Is Something 'Ancient History'? - March 21, 2024

March 21, 2024 12:11 - 4 minutes - 4.06 MB

When Do You 'Go Against the Grain'? - March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024 13:35 - 4 minutes - 4.06 MB

'Dip Your Toes' or 'Take the Plunge'? - March 08, 2024

March 08, 2024 13:46 - 4 minutes - 3.91 MB

Read the Riot Act - February 29, 2024

February 29, 2024 18:17 - 3 minutes - 3.72 MB

Influence Others from a 'Bully Pulpit' - February 22, 2024

February 22, 2024 13:36 - 4 minutes - 4.52 MB

US Presidents Like to Make Up Words, Expressions - February 15, 2024

February 15, 2024 20:21 - 7 minutes - 7.17 MB

Why Do Married Couples 'Tie the Knot'? - February 08, 2024

February 08, 2024 23:28 - 4 minutes - 4.33 MB

Do You Have a 'Doppelgänger'? - February 01, 2024

February 01, 2024 21:20 - 4 minutes - 4.16 MB

Snow Day? Don't Be 'Left Out in the Cold' - January 24, 2024

January 24, 2024 18:45 - 6 minutes - 6.23 MB

Marathon or Sprint? - January 17, 2024

January 17, 2024 22:12 - 4 minutes - 4.41 MB

Walk Before You Can Run - January 10, 2024

January 10, 2024 23:28 - 4 minutes - 4.03 MB

Do You Color Inside or Outside the Lines? - January 05, 2024

January 05, 2024 13:14 - 4 minutes - 4.25 MB

Goal! Do You Have One for 2024? - December 28, 2023

December 28, 2023 13:23 - 4 minutes - 4.13 MB

The World in Other Words in 2023 - December 27, 2023

December 27, 2023 20:38 - 7 minutes - 6.95 MB

'Tis the Season! - December 20, 2023

December 20, 2023 21:25 - 6 minutes - 5.84 MB

When Does a Problem 'Snowball'? - December 14, 2023

December 14, 2023 23:34 - 4 minutes - 4.41 MB

It's Time to 'See the Light' - November 30, 2023

November 30, 2023 13:43 - 5 minutes - 5.5 MB

'State-of-the-Art' Is the Best of Its Time - November 17, 2023

November 17, 2023 15:26 - 4 minutes - 4.19 MB

Are You 'Sitting Pretty'? - November 09, 2023

November 09, 2023 16:31 - 3 minutes - 3.63 MB

'Straight From the Horse's Mouth' - October 31, 2023

October 31, 2023 21:45 - 4 minutes - 4.19 MB

'Birds of a Feather...' - October 27, 2023

October 27, 2023 15:58 - 3 minutes - 3.69 MB

How Do You Define Success? - October 20, 2023

October 20, 2023 12:17 - 5 minutes - 4.77 MB

The Bad Side of Roses - October 13, 2023

October 13, 2023 12:32 - 5 minutes - 4.75 MB

How Do You Stay 'In Shape'? - October 05, 2023

October 05, 2023 14:15 - 5 minutes - 4.84 MB

'Boilerplate' Language Is All Business - September 28, 2023

September 28, 2023 20:43 - 4 minutes - 3.91 MB

Some writing is unusual and creative, but that is not boilerplate. Find out what this word means on this week’s Words and Their Stories.

No Need to 'Gild the Lily' - September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023 14:38 - 6 minutes - 5.77 MB

'Icing on the Cake' Is As Good As It Sounds - September 13, 2023

September 13, 2023 01:31 - 4 minutes - 4.59 MB

What Is 'Empty Nest Syndrome'? - September 08, 2023

September 08, 2023 12:53 - 4 minutes - 4.02 MB

Explore from Your 'Armchair' - September 01, 2023

September 01, 2023 12:52 - 5 minutes - 5.11 MB

What Does 'On a Shoestring' Mean? - August 25, 2023

August 25, 2023 12:37 - 5 minutes - 5.28 MB

Make Your Home 'Spick-and-Span' - August 15, 2023

August 15, 2023 22:42 - 3 minutes - 3.69 MB

Learn When to Wear 'Kid Gloves' - August 11, 2023

August 11, 2023 03:12 - 4 minutes - 4.47 MB

'Run Something Up the Flagpole' to Test an Idea - August 01, 2023

August 01, 2023 18:57 - 4 minutes - 4.5 MB

'Beating a Dead Horse' Is Pointless - July 27, 2023

July 27, 2023 21:35 - 4 minutes - 4.11 MB

Seeing 'Double'? - July 20, 2023

July 20, 2023 12:22 - 5 minutes - 5.41 MB

'To Sink or Swim' Is Up to You - July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023 17:00 - 4 minutes - 4.3 MB

Differences Between Board, on Board, Aboard - July 07, 2023

July 07, 2023 12:32 - 4 minutes - 3.92 MB

'All Thumbs' - June 28, 2023

June 28, 2023 16:56 - 3 minutes - 3.22 MB

'In The Hot Seat' Is Not Where You Want to Be - June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023 22:00 - 5 minutes - 5.22 MB

Are You Prepared 'to See How the Sausage Is Made'? - June 15, 2023

June 15, 2023 18:04 - 4 minutes - 4.47 MB

Let's 'Zero in' on Number Expressions - June 08, 2023

June 08, 2023 20:27 - 5 minutes - 4.89 MB

'Clean As a Whistle' - June 01, 2023

June 01, 2023 18:51 - 4 minutes - 3.98 MB

'Watch My Dust!' - May 25, 2023

May 25, 2023 13:46 - 4 minutes - 4 MB

Does a Good Luck Charm 'Work Like a Charm'? - May 18, 2023

May 18, 2023 20:44 - 5 minutes - 5.61 MB

Oil and Water Do Not Mix - May 03, 2023

May 03, 2023 12:34 - 4 minutes - 4.02 MB

Why Is This Bird a 'Burden'? - April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023 21:15 - 4 minutes - 4.16 MB