Enhancing Your English podcast

This episode will look at some common portmanteaus (blended words) in English. 

This episode will look at some English words and expressions that come from the names of company products. Included in this episode are: -google -photoshop -Kleenex -xerox -dumpster -dumpster fire -band-aid -spam -drinking the Kool-Aid

This episode will look at five more common English expressions that are related to things in nature. Included in this episode are: 1. 'a slippery slope' 2. 'caught between a rock and a hard place' 3. 'make waves' / 'rock the boat' 4. 'water under the bridge' 5. 'we'll cross that bridge when we come to it' / 'we'll cross that river when we come to it'

This episode will look at five common English expressions that are related to things in nature. Included in this episode are: 1. 'don't beat around the bush' 2. 'can't see the forest for the trees' 3. 'out of the woods' 4. 'to go out on a limb' 5. 'to extend an olive branch'

This episode will look at some common English expressions that have to do with foods and drinks. Included in this episode are: -it's a piece of cake -it's a cakewalk -it's easy as pie -it's like taking candy from a baby -the icing on the cake -have your cake and eat it, too -sell like hotcakes -bread and butter -butter someone up -don't cry over spilt/spilled milk -don't put all your eggs in one basket -walk on eggshells -egg someone on -take something with a grain/pinch of salt

This episode will look at some common texting and chatting abbreviations in English. 

This episode will look at some common health and medical terms for English language learners.  

This episode will look at some common phrasal verbs in English. This show will cover: 'turn up' and 'turn down' 'bring up' 'come up' and 'coming up' 'come up with' and 'come down with' 'work out'

Phrasal verbs are two or three-part verbs such as 'turn down,' 'run into,' and 'come up with.' This episode will give an introduction and explanation to phrasal verbs, and will be a companion to Episode 16, when we look at examples of common English phrasal verbs.  

This episode will look at six terms and expressions in English that use the color blue. Included in this episode are: 1. 'feeling blue' 2. 'to come out of the blue' 3. 'once in a blue moon' 4. 'blue-collar' 5. 'blue chip' 6. 'blueprint'

This episode will look at some rules and tips for spelling English words. This show will cover: -When to double the last letter when adding 'ing' to a word (e.g. running vs. walking) -Adding 's' to words ending in 'y', 'o', and 'f/fe' -Adding prefixes to words -A look at maybe the most common English spelling 'rule': 'i' before 'e', except after 'c' 

In this episode, we will continue with the stories of five more English words and expressions that come from the names of people. This show will cover: -David vs. Goliath -a Good Samaritan -odyssey -mentor -an Achilles' heel

This episode will tell the stories of some English words and expressions that come from the names of people. Some of the people are real people from history, others are from myths and legends. In this episode, we'll look at four words and expressions, and we'll continue this theme in Episode 12. Included in this episode are: -sandwich -boycott -a Pyrrhic victory -to have the Midas touch  

This episode will look at some of the common abbreviations used in English. Included in this episode are: e.g. etc. aka B.C.E./C.E./B.C./A.D. c. FYI VIP ID DIY CEO HR PR ASAP P.S. FAQ RSVP TBA/TBD  

This show will look at some compound adjectives that can be used to describe someone's personality. Included in this episode are: -easy-going/laid-back -high-strung -level-headed -hard-headed -strong-willed -closed-minded/narrow-minded/open-minded -two-faced -bad-tempered/short-tempered -good-natured -warm-hearted/cold-hearted -fun-loving -down-to-earth -stuck-up -stand-offish -self-centered/self-absorbed -self-confident/self-assured -hard-working -quick-witted -thin-skinned/thick-skinned -tight-fisted -soft-spoken -absent-minded -old-fashioned

This show will look at English expressions related to animals. Included in this episode are: -'the rat race' -'dog-eat-dog' or 'a dog-eat-dog world' -'dog days' or 'the dog days of summer' -'to let the cat out of the bag' -'a white elephant' -'the elephant in the room' -'don't look a gift horse in the mouth' -'to get it straight from the horse's mouth' -'as strong as a bull' -'as clever as a fox' -'crazy like a fox' -'as wise as an owl' -'as quiet as a mouse' -'as blind as a bat' -'as stubborn as a mule' -'as happy as a clam'

This episode gives a brief history of Halloween, which is celebrated on October 31st.

This episode will look at ten expressions in English that are related to parts of the body. The expressions are: 1. 'break a leg' 2. 'I'm pulling your leg' 3. 'to put your foot in your mouth' 4. 'play it by ear' 5. 'to have a gut feeling' or 'to go with your gut' 6. 'to be in over your head' or 'it's over my head' 7. 'It's a pain in the neck.' 8. 'have skeletons in your closet' 9. 'to get something off your chest' 10. 'to turn a blind eye'  

This episode will look at the origins of the days of the week in English, and some word roots related to 'time.'

This episode will look at six expressions in English that use the color red. 1. 'seeing red' 2. 'in the red' 3. 'red tape' and 'cutting through the red tape' 4. 'catch someone red-handed' 5. 'red carpet,' as in, 'roll out the red carpet' and 'the red carpet treatment' 6. 'paint the town red' 

This episode looks at some of the problems with learning and using Latin and Greek word roots, and offers a recommendation for using a flashcard app to study and review vocabulary. 

This episode will look at class subjects in English, and use some examples of class subjects to learn about Latin and Greek word roots to enhance your vocabulary.

This podcast will look at the meanings of prefixes related to numbers, and provide tips on how to read big numbers in English.  

This is a short introduction for the Enhancing Your English Podcast.