A podcast for English learners and English lovers about the history of words phrases and idioms.
Keep It Simple Stupid! This phrase has even entered into different languages, but where did it come from and why was it used? We’ll talk about that this episode. If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #26 K.I.S.S. appeared first on VenturEnglish.
If you like detective novels you probably know about the third degree. But where did this idiom come from and how can you use it? We’ll talk about that this episode. If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #25 The Third Degree appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Who would actually make a mistake like that and what would even make someone think like that? Throw the baby out with the bathwater is a very old idiom, but it didn’t originate in English! If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #24 Baby Out With the Bathwater! appeared first on VenturEnglish.
What is a rub and where is it, anyway? Why would someone say this comment. Does it make any sense or did it make more sense in the days of Shakespeare? If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #23 There’s the Rub appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Do you even own any horses? Are there horses anywhere nearby? Probably not, so where does this phrase come from? We’ll investigate in this episode. If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #22 Hold Your Horses appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Do you like to do things across the board, make sweeping changes and reset everything? If so you might use this idiom a lot but where did it come from and why do we say it today when we mean to make complete changes? If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up ... Read more #21 Across the Board The post #21 Across the Board appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Do you like chase scenes in movies? Do you wish they would come more sooner. If so you might be the type of person who would use this idiom! What does it mean and where did it come from? If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for ... Read more #20 Cut to the Chase The post #20 Cut to the Chase appeared first on VenturEnglish.
This phrase doesn’t really make much sense unless you know the context. Why do people say Jump the shark? And what does this mean? Of course we’ll break it down on this week’s episode. If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #19 Jumping the Shark appeared first on VenturEnglish.
This word has become popular with the internet culture. No you don’t want to be trolled or to be considered an internet troll, but trolling doesn’t come from those little trolls under a bridge. Where does it come from? If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for ... Read more #18 Trolling The post #18 Trolling appeared first on VenturEnglish.
What is gaslighting? It’s a term we’ve heard a lot of in recent years on the news, in politics and in the work place. It’s certainly a popular topic to discuss, but what is it? If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #17 Gaslighting appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Everyone touches base these days. Whether calling on a mobile phone, texting, or just showing up in person, touching base is pretty common in the modern workplace but where did this expression come from? If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #16 Touch base appeared first on VenturEnglish.
If you are left handed I’m certain that you’ve been called a southpaw. This word has even entered into different languages. But why would southpaw come to mean left handed. Here are a couple possibilities! If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #15 Southpaw appeared first on VenturEnglish.
It would be difficult to boil the ocean. So what do people mean when they use this phrase. And what is the origin of it? Well it’s become a common in a modern office but the origin is more than 100 years ago. Let’s look at Boil the Ocean. If you are a member see ... Read more #14 Boil the Ocean The post #14 Boil the Ocean appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Move the needle is a common phrase in corporate speak or corporate jargon. Have you heard it used before? Probably it has come up on occasion, but what does it mean and where did it come from? If you are a member see the transcript here! Sign up to become a member for free here! The post #13 Move the Needle appeared first on VenturEnglish.
If you have ever got caught searching and searching and searching for things on the internet you might have fallen down a rabbit hole! See what this idiom means and where it comes from this week. See the transcript here! The post #12 Falling Down a Rabbit Hole appeared first on VenturEnglish.
People have been “nailing it” a lot on the internet these days! It’s quite a good thing to do, but what is it exactly? We’ll talk about what Nailed It! means and how to use it this week. See the transcript here! The post #11 Nailed It! appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Are you woke? Do yo want to be woke? How do you know? What is woke? We talk about how this word has become so popular in slang in this week’s episode. See the transcript here! The post #10 Woke appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Maybe you’d like to do something or go somewhere but it’s just not in the plan. It might be off piste. We talk about this new piece of slang in this week’s episode. See the transcript here! The post #9 Off Piste appeared first on VenturEnglish.
Has anyone ever identified themselves as a “soccer mom” to you? How about a “soccer dad”? We talk about these idioms on this week’s episode. See the transcript here! The post #8 Soccer Moms appeared first on VenturEnglish.
When should you throw your hat into the ring? And what if you don’t wear a hat? We talk about this idiom on this week’s episode. See the transcript here! The post #7 Throw Your Hat into the Ring appeared first on VenturEnglish.