Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
Baseball is America’s national sport. So it is not unusual that many popular expressions come from baseball. But first, let me explain a little about the game.
Each baseball team has nine players. The pitcher of one team throws the ball to a [...]

continue reading.....

I’m Susan Clark with the Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
The Italians have an old saying, “Il dolce far niente.”  The words mean it is sweet, or enjoyable, to do nothing.
On weekends and during holidays, many of us enjoy doing nothing. But most of the time we have to work. And, to keep our [...]

continue reading.....

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
Some unusual words describe how a person spends his or her time.  For example, someone who likes to spend a lot of time sitting or lying down while watching television is sometimes called a couch potato.  A couch is a piece of furniture that people sit [...]

continue reading.....

Now, the Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
Hang is a simple word. But there are many meanings for hang. Especially when it is used with other words. Two often-heard expressions are to hang tight and to hang loose. 

continue reading.....