source by VOA

Deep Six: It Is Well Hidden

 

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.

Sailors seem — to those of us on land — to lead exciting, even mysterious lives. Many things are different at sea. Even the language is different. […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

Easy As Falling Off a Log: Not Much Effort Involved!

 

Now, the Special English program, Words and Their Stories.

Every people has its own way of saying things, its own special expressions. Some of these expressions are easy to understand. The words create a picture in your mind. […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

Green:More Than Just a Color

 

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.

Green is an important color in nature. It is the color of grass and the leaves on trees. It is also the color of most growing plants. […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

Santa Claus: Do You Believe?

Now, the Special English program, Words and Their Stories. 

Our expression today is Santa Claus.  Santa Claus is someone who will remain in the hearts of children forever.  He is the make-believe person who brings toys and other gifts to children at Christmas. […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

In the Red:Better to Be in the Black

 

Now, Words and Their Stories, a VOA Special English program about American expressions.  I’m Rich Kleinfeldt with some financial words and expressions used in business and the stock market. […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

Feel The Pinch: The Pains of Economic Trouble

 

I’m Susan Clark with the Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

In the nineteen thirties, a song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?,” was very popular in the United States. It was the time of the big Depression. The song had meaning for many people who had lost their jobs. […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

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. […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

Dutch: English Expressions Unrelated to Dutch People

 

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.  Today, we tell about American expressions using the word “Dutch.” […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

Baloney: It’s Just Not True

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.

Baloney is a kind of sausage that many Americans eat often. The word also has another meaning in English.  It is used to describe something – usually something someone says – that is false or wrong or foolish.

Baloney sausage comes from the name of the Italian […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments

Heard It on the Grapevine: What? Who Told You That?

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.

Some of the most exciting information comes by way of the grapevine.

That is so because reports received through the grapevine are supposed to be secret. The information is all hush hush. It is whispered into your ear with the understanding that you will not pass it […]

By |March 4th, 2009|VOA 1|0 Comments