English from all angles! What do you miss the most during the lockdown? Listen to this episode and find out what Drew misses (not much!) and learn the word “lockdown,” the phrasal verb “to lock down,” and the expression “short for.” Speaking of “missing,” when did the Rolling Stones’ song Miss You come out? It was 1978. Learn what a “concession stand” is (hint, think hot dogs, ice cream and pop), and why it reminds Drew of that song. And remember; never be afraid to make mistakes when you speak English!

English from all angles! What does “goo goo gaga” mean? It refers to meaningless sounds babies make. In this episode, Drew talks about Lady Gaga, making goo-goo eyes, Radio Ga Ga by Queen and Goo Goo Dolls. Also, learn the words lullaby, twinkle and “ish”. Practice the expression “to star in”. Who starred in A Star is Born? That depends on which version we’re talking about. Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand starred in the 1976 version, and Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga starred in the 2018 version.

English for all angles! In this episode, Drew explains uses of the word “aim,” along with the expression “to aim high,” which means to be ambitious and set challenging goals. He also discusses the concept of “settling for less,” which is a willingness to accept mediocrity, lowered standards or unambitious objectives. Never settle for less – aim high! Additional expressions in this episode include “to settle the score” “settle up” and “settle down.”

English from all angles! Hail, jail, frail, sail, rail, tail, mail…This episode looks at how these rhyming words are used in English. You’ll learn slang terms for the word “jail”; the expressions “to tell a tall tale” and “snail mail”, along with what happens when it hails.

English from all angles! In this episode, Drew looks at the very useful expression “to set the record straight” and explains several uses of the word “record.” Follow along with him and improve your English in just 9 minutes! Some people think that learning English is a piece of cake. Let me set the record straight: learning English requires a lot effort, but it’s worth it. Along with “set the record straight,” learn “track record” and the phrasal verb “to put down.”

English from all angles! This episode looks at the word “tag” and the use of question tags. You’re familiar with question tags, aren’t you? You’ve studied question tags before, haven’t you? You can master question tags, can’t you? As you can see, the three previous questions employ question tags. Listen in and discover more! A tag is a small piece of paper, metal or cloth that contains information and is typically used for identifying something. Price tags identify how much something costs; dog tags identify the dog’s name and include the owner’s telephone number. Tag is also a children’s game. You know how to play tag, don’t you? You’re it!

English from all angles! What’s the difference between a yard and a garden, in American English? Not sure? Then tune in! Also in this episode: the expression “the whole nine yards”, and the words “weed”, “prune” and “junkyard”. So, is it “yard” or “garden”? It depends. You barbecue in the backyard and you have yard sales in the front (yard); you grow vegetables in the garden. And you can weed both the yard as well as the garden.

English from all angles! This episode takes a look at the expression “cup of tea” and the main uses of “whose” and who’s.” Tip: “whose” and “who’s” are pronounced exactly the same. They rhyme with “shoes.” Remember, we use the possessive pronoun “whose” to ask whom something belongs to: Whose car is that? “Whose” is also used to tell whom something belongs to: My friend, whose car broke down, is angry. In regards to “who’s,” remember that it can either be the contraction of “who is” or “who has.” Regarding the use of “cup to tea,” we use this expression to talk about something we find pleasing or something that we prefer: “I bought you a novel because I know that fiction is your cup of tea.” Or, “Going to the opera is really not my cup of tea.”

English from all angles! In episode 51, you’ll learn what it means to be “cooped up” and why it results in having “cabin fever.” These two concepts result from measures taken to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. To be cooped up means to be confined to a small, restricted space. The classic example involves chickens, which are typically cramped together and raised in small cages called…coops. A cabin is a small house in the wild with very little space. Imagine being cooped up for a long time in a cabin. You’d get…”cabin fever.” Cabin fever is a term we use to describe irritable feelings you get when having to spend too much time indoors.

English from all angles! Could, should and would. You know these modal verbs, right? Can you use them properly in the past tense? Examples are “could’ve gone,” “would’ve learned,” and “should’ve listened.” If you can’t, don’t worry! Listen to Drew’s podcast and you will learn (very easily) how to accurately use this structure in English. We use modal verbs in the past tense to talk about hypothetical situations in the past. Could have: I could’ve gone if I hadn’t gotten sick. Would have: I would’ve passed the exam if I had studied more. Should have: “I should’ve called you when I arrived…but I didn’t. Sorry!”