About
Words and Their Stories programs explain idioms and expressions that many learners of American English find difficult to understand.
Words and Their Stories - VOA Learning English
English, Education, 1 season, 132 episodes, 11 hours, 6 minutes
Words and Their Stories - VOA Learning English
English, Education, 1 season, 132 episodes, 11 hours, 6 minutes
Exploring the 'Butterfly Effect' - October 24, 2024
10/24/2024 • 4 minutes, 42 seconds
Expressions Using Our Head and Shoulders - October 17, 2024
10/17/2024 • 5 minutes, 31 seconds
When in Rome … - October 10, 2024
10/10/2024 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
Is ‘Pie in the Sky’ Just a Dream? - October 03, 2024
10/3/2024 • 4 minutes, 51 seconds
Keep Your Nose to the Grindstone - September 26, 2024
9/26/2024 • 6 minutes, 2 seconds
How to Use "Swimming" to Deal with Life's Situations - September 19, 2024
9/19/2024 • 5 minutes, 25 seconds
What Is Your 'North Star'? - September 13, 2024
9/13/2024 • 5 minutes, 2 seconds
‘Dead Giveaway’ -- Not as Dark as It Sounds - September 05, 2024
9/5/2024 • 4 minutes, 27 seconds
An Eye for an Eye - August 29, 2024
8/29/2024 • 4 minutes, 25 seconds
Reaching the 'Tipping Point' - August 22, 2024
8/22/2024 • 3 minutes, 47 seconds
Sometimes Help Is Just 'A Phone Call Away' - August 16, 2024
8/16/2024 • 5 minutes, 23 seconds
One Person's Trash Is Another's Treasure - August 08, 2024
8/8/2024 • 4 minutes, 33 seconds
When Is Two Too Many? When It's a 'Double Whammy'! - August 01, 2024
8/1/2024 • 4 minutes, 49 seconds
Let's Talk about 'Going South' - July 25, 2024
7/25/2024 • 5 minutes, 13 seconds
Be Careful What You 'Bank On' - July 18, 2024
7/18/2024 • 4 minutes, 41 seconds
What Gives You 'Food for Thought'? - July 11, 2024
7/11/2024 • 4 minutes, 22 seconds
Partners in Crime - July 05, 2024
7/5/2024 • 5 minutes, 19 seconds
Learn Some 'Wave' Expressions - June 27, 2024
6/27/2024 • 6 minutes, 52 seconds
It’s Showtime! - June 20, 2024
6/20/2024 • 4 minutes, 48 seconds
Being 'Put Through the Wringer' Is Not Fun - June 13, 2024
6/13/2024 • 4 minutes, 23 seconds
Are You Strong 'Out of the Gate'? - June 07, 2024
6/7/2024 • 4 minutes, 6 seconds
Be Bold. 'Break the Mold'! - May 31, 2024
5/31/2024 • 4 minutes, 20 seconds
Many Handy 'Hand' Expressions - May 22, 2024
5/22/2024 • 6 minutes, 46 seconds
Ways to 'Divide and Conquer' - May 17, 2024
5/17/2024 • 5 minutes, 23 seconds
It's Time to 'Separate the Wheat from the Chaff' - May 10, 2024
5/10/2024 • 4 minutes, 24 seconds
What Good Comes from 'Casting a Wide Net'? - May 03, 2024
5/3/2024 • 5 minutes, 21 seconds
To Pull or Not to Pull Punches - April 25, 2024
4/25/2024 • 6 minutes, 8 seconds
Are You the Windshield or the Bug? - April 19, 2024
4/19/2024 • 4 minutes, 46 seconds
Many People 'Thank Their Lucky Stars' - April 12, 2024
4/12/2024 • 4 minutes, 51 seconds
Is It Real or Bogus? - April 03, 2024
4/3/2024 • 4 minutes, 27 seconds
What Are Your ‘True Colors’? - March 28, 2024
3/28/2024 • 5 minutes
When Is Something 'Ancient History'? - March 21, 2024
3/21/2024 • 4 minutes, 20 seconds
When Do You 'Go Against the Grain'? - March 15, 2024
3/15/2024 • 4 minutes, 20 seconds
'Dip Your Toes' or 'Take the Plunge'? - March 08, 2024
3/8/2024 • 4 minutes, 10 seconds
Read the Riot Act - February 29, 2024
2/29/2024 • 3 minutes, 58 seconds
Influence Others from a 'Bully Pulpit' - February 22, 2024
2/22/2024 • 4 minutes, 49 seconds
US Presidents Like to Make Up Words, Expressions - February 15, 2024
2/15/2024 • 7 minutes, 39 seconds
Why Do Married Couples 'Tie the Knot'? - February 08, 2024
2/8/2024 • 4 minutes, 37 seconds
Do You Have a 'Doppelgänger'? - February 01, 2024
2/1/2024 • 4 minutes, 26 seconds
Snow Day? Don't Be 'Left Out in the Cold' - January 24, 2024
1/24/2024 • 6 minutes, 39 seconds
Marathon or Sprint? - January 17, 2024
1/17/2024 • 4 minutes, 42 seconds
Walk Before You Can Run - January 10, 2024
1/10/2024 • 4 minutes, 18 seconds
Do You Color Inside or Outside the Lines? - January 05, 2024
1/5/2024 • 4 minutes, 32 seconds
Goal! Do You Have One for 2024? - December 28, 2023
12/28/2023 • 4 minutes, 24 seconds
The World in Other Words in 2023 - December 27, 2023
12/27/2023 • 7 minutes, 25 seconds
'Tis the Season! - December 20, 2023
12/20/2023 • 6 minutes, 14 seconds
When Does a Problem 'Snowball'? - December 14, 2023
12/14/2023 • 4 minutes, 42 seconds
AI, Hallucinate, Authentic or Rizz for Word of the Year - December 05, 2023
12/5/2023 • 5 minutes, 57 seconds
It's Time to 'See the Light' - November 30, 2023
11/30/2023 • 5 minutes, 52 seconds
Merriam-Webster Chooses ‘Authentic’ as Word of the Year - November 27, 2023
11/27/2023 • 5 minutes, 11 seconds
'State-of-the-Art' Is the Best of Its Time - November 17, 2023
11/17/2023 • 4 minutes, 28 seconds
Are You 'Sitting Pretty'? - November 09, 2023
11/9/2023 • 3 minutes, 52 seconds
Best Way To Get Information: 'Straight From the Horse's Mouth' - October 31, 2023
10/31/2023 • 4 minutes, 28 seconds
'Birds of a Feather...' - October 27, 2023
10/27/2023 • 3 minutes, 56 seconds
How Do You Define Success? - October 20, 2023
10/20/2023 • 5 minutes, 5 seconds
The Bad Side of Roses - October 13, 2023
10/13/2023 • 5 minutes, 4 seconds
How Do You Stay 'In Shape'? - October 05, 2023
10/5/2023 • 5 minutes, 10 seconds
'Boilerplate' Language Is All Business - September 28, 2023
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.
9/28/2023 • 4 minutes, 10 seconds
No Need to 'Gild the Lily' - September 21, 2023
9/21/2023 • 6 minutes, 9 seconds
'Icing on the Cake' Is As Good As It Sounds - September 13, 2023
9/13/2023 • 4 minutes, 54 seconds
What Is 'Empty Nest Syndrome'? - September 08, 2023
9/8/2023 • 4 minutes, 17 seconds
Explore from Your 'Armchair' - September 01, 2023
9/1/2023 • 5 minutes, 27 seconds
What Does 'On a Shoestring' Mean? - August 25, 2023
8/25/2023 • 5 minutes, 38 seconds
Make Your Home 'Spick-and-Span' - August 15, 2023
8/15/2023 • 3 minutes, 56 seconds
Learn When to Wear 'Kid Gloves' - August 11, 2023
8/11/2023 • 4 minutes, 46 seconds
'Run Something Up the Flagpole' to Test an Idea - August 01, 2023
8/1/2023 • 4 minutes, 48 seconds
'Beating a Dead Horse' Is Pointless - July 27, 2023
7/27/2023 • 4 minutes, 23 seconds
Seeing 'Double'? - July 20, 2023
7/20/2023 • 5 minutes, 46 seconds
'To Sink or Swim' Is Up to You - July 12, 2023
7/12/2023 • 4 minutes, 35 seconds
Differences Between Board, on Board, Aboard - July 07, 2023
7/7/2023 • 4 minutes, 11 seconds
'All Thumbs' - June 28, 2023
6/28/2023 • 3 minutes, 26 seconds
'In The Hot Seat' Is Not Where You Want to Be - June 22, 2023
6/22/2023 • 5 minutes, 34 seconds
Are You Prepared 'to See How the Sausage Is Made'? - June 15, 2023
6/15/2023 • 4 minutes, 46 seconds
Let's 'Zero In On' Number Expressions - June 08, 2023
6/8/2023 • 5 minutes, 13 seconds
'Clean As a Whistle' - June 01, 2023
6/1/2023 • 4 minutes, 15 seconds
'Watch My Dust!' - May 25, 2023
5/25/2023 • 4 minutes, 16 seconds
Does a Good Luck Charm 'Work Like a Charm'? - May 18, 2023
5/18/2023 • 5 minutes, 59 seconds
'Housekeeping' and 'Clean House' Mean More Than Cleaning - May 10, 2023
5/10/2023 • 6 minutes, 9 seconds
Oil and Water Do Not Mix - May 03, 2023
5/3/2023 • 4 minutes, 17 seconds
Why Is This Bird a 'Burden'? - April 26, 2023
4/26/2023 • 4 minutes, 26 seconds
Are You a 'Bull in a China Shop'? - April 21, 2023
4/21/2023 • 5 minutes, 18 seconds
'Light at the End of the Tunnel' - April 14, 2023
4/14/2023 • 4 minutes, 43 seconds
It Is Not Nice to 'Dump on' Others - April 07, 2023
4/7/2023 • 4 minutes, 16 seconds
Low-hanging Fruit - March 29, 2023
3/29/2023 • 6 minutes, 30 seconds
'Holding Down the Fort' Is a Big Job - March 23, 2023
3/23/2023 • 4 minutes, 35 seconds
Par for The Course - March 17, 2023
3/17/2023 • 7 minutes, 9 seconds
Ups and Downs, Highs and Lows - March 09, 2023
3/9/2023 • 6 minutes, 50 seconds
'Imperfect' Models in Italy Redefine Beauty - February 27, 2023
2/27/2023 • 4 minutes, 39 seconds
Expressions for a Full Meal - February 27, 2023
Go through an entire meal of expressions with this episode of Words and Their Stories.
2/27/2023 • 6 minutes, 9 seconds
Have You 'Ruffled Any Feathers' Recently? - February 23, 2023
2/23/2023 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire - February 16, 2023
2/16/2023 • 4 minutes, 46 seconds
Are You a Party Animal? - February 09, 2023
2/9/2023 • 5 minutes, 19 seconds
Footloose and Fancy-free - February 01, 2023
2/1/2023 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
First Dibs - January 26, 2023
1/26/2023 • 4 minutes, 8 seconds
Raise a Red Flag - January 18, 2023
1/18/2023 • 4 minutes, 22 seconds
Things Are Serious If You 'Cross the Rubicon' - January 12, 2023
1/12/2023 • 4 minutes, 22 seconds
Dreamy Expressions - January 05, 2023
1/5/2023 • 5 minutes, 32 seconds
Expressions for New Year's Resolution - December 29, 2022
12/29/2022 • 5 minutes, 18 seconds
Expressions for Celebrating the Holidays - December 22, 2022
12/22/2022 • 6 minutes, 13 seconds
Inside Baseball, Other 'Inside' Expressions - December 16, 2022
12/16/2022 • 5 minutes, 44 seconds
'Set in Stone' - December 08, 2022
12/8/2022 • 4 minutes, 50 seconds
‘Having Skin in the Game’ Is Not as Painful as It Sounds - December 02, 2022
12/2/2022 • 4 minutes, 45 seconds
What Is Your Word of the Year? - November 29, 2022
11/29/2022 • 7 minutes, 45 seconds
Cornucopia: So Much of a Good Thing! - November 22, 2022
11/22/2022 • 4 minutes, 51 seconds
Have You Felt the 'Walls Are Closing in on You'? - November 18, 2022
11/18/2022 • 5 minutes, 23 seconds
Scrabble Dictionary Adds 500 New Words - November 17, 2022
11/17/2022 • 5 minutes, 8 seconds
'To Have a Monkey on Your Back' Is No Laughing Matter - November 10, 2022
11/10/2022 • 4 minutes, 30 seconds
How Dirty Is 'Greasing Someone's Palm'? - November 03, 2022
11/3/2022 • 3 minutes, 57 seconds
Have Your Cake and Eat It Too - October 27, 2022
10/27/2022 • 5 minutes, 7 seconds
'Bury Your Head in the Sand' to Avoid Difficulty - October 21, 2022
10/21/2022 • 4 minutes, 31 seconds
What Is the 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back'? - October 14, 2022
10/14/2022 • 6 minutes, 13 seconds
What Does It Mean 'To Push Someone's Buttons'? - October 05, 2022
Learn about button-pushers and other button expressions.
10/5/2022 • 6 minutes, 12 seconds
'All Over the Map' Can Be Good and Bad - September 29, 2022
9/29/2022 • 4 minutes, 47 seconds
The Best Way Is 'Tried-and-True' - September 23, 2022
9/23/2022 • 4 minutes, 6 seconds
This Is 'The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread'! - September 15, 2022
9/15/2022 • 4 minutes, 56 seconds
Who Would 'Bring Sand to the Beach'? - September 09, 2022
9/9/2022 • 5 minutes, 21 seconds
Where Is the 'Wrong Side of the Tracks'? - September 01, 2022
9/1/2022 • 6 minutes, 30 seconds
Blaming Others With a Goat: A 'Scapegoat' - August 25, 2022
8/25/2022 • 4 minutes, 2 seconds
'The Road to Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions' - August 18, 2022
8/18/2022 • 4 minutes, 15 seconds
Problems Happen When You Are 'Asleep at the Wheel' - August 12, 2022
8/12/2022 • 5 minutes, 20 seconds
Learn How to 'Read the Room' - August 05, 2022
8/5/2022 • 4 minutes, 16 seconds
Stay on Time with Clock, Watch Expressions - July 28, 2022
7/28/2022 • 6 minutes, 5 seconds
Let the 'Doors of Opportunity' Open Wide! - July 21, 2022
7/21/2022 • 4 minutes, 46 seconds
Solving Problems with Sleep Expressions - July 13, 2022
7/13/2022 • 5 minutes, 55 seconds
Got Something to Hide? Try 'Sweeping It Under the Rug' - July 08, 2022
7/8/2022 • 5 minutes, 52 seconds
Use a Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut - June 30, 2022
6/30/2022 • 5 minutes, 11 seconds
English’s ‘Mile’ Expressions Are a Mile Long - June 22, 2022
6/22/2022 • 5 minutes, 14 seconds
'Full Steam Ahead!' - June 16, 2022
6/16/2022 • 5 minutes, 2 seconds
Use the "Ocean" to Express Big Thoughts - June 09, 2022
6/9/2022 • 4 minutes, 22 seconds
Describing Things Happen Very Fast - June 02, 2022
6/2/2022 • 5 minutes, 59 seconds
Do Your Best with This Car Expression - May 26, 2022
5/26/2022 • 3 minutes, 49 seconds
'Airbrush' Your Way to Perfection - May 19, 2022
5/19/2022 • 4 minutes, 52 seconds