The word “eve” in English can be used figuratively and literally. Its figurative use refers to one event that takes place just before another. For example, “The candidates were still campaigning on the eve of the election.” And the word “eve” is used literally as the day prior to two major holidays: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. In this case, the word Eve -written with a capital “E”- means the “day before” Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, respectively. Also in this episode, Drew gives a tip on how to properly pronounce the letter “v.”

We use two key words in English to express desire: wish and hope. Choose one or the other depending on the likelihood of that desire coming true. “Wish” is generally used to express desires that are unlikely or practically impossible to occur, whereas “hope” is used when there is confidence that the desire can come to fruition and is doable.

99% of you have bought a lemon at one time or another. That is, the fruit lemon. But when it comes to automobiles, hopefully none of you have ever bought a lemon. That’s because a “lemon” is a new car with a defect, which is a flaw or an imperfection. When it comes to vehicles, the term “lemon” is most commonly associated with a brand new car (and not usually a used car) that has a major safety defect: unsafe brakes, a faulty transmission or a misfiring engine.

If you are driven, you are ambitious and hard working. You are motivated to accomplish goals and to get things done. In essence, you are pushed. But what is it that pushes you? In other words, what are you driven by? Money? Success? Fame? Peer pressure? Fear? Failure?

A stream is a body of running water as well as a flow of digital data. “Running” refers to something that flows, as opposed to something that doesn’t; in other words, something that’s “still.” Streams, rivers and creeks are bodies of running water, whereas oceans, seas and lakes are bodies of still water.

This episode teaches common words and expressions that use the word “paper.” Others include “to be due,” the phrasal verb “to make up” and Drew gives pronunciation tips on the word “tear.”

In this episode, Drew explains the differences among three similar words: reward, prize and award. A reward is a payment offered for finding something or someone; a prize is something you get for winning a competition or a contest and an award is what you get for an admirable performance or for doing an excellent job.

The word “cast” has many meanings. As a verb it’s irregular: cast/cast/cast. Casting a movie is the task of assigning actors and actresses to play a particular role. And if you’re an angler, you definitely know how to cast.

The phrasal verbs “burn out” and “ fade away” are often used in the world of rock and roll. If you’re a celebrity musician who’s reached the peak of fame and fortune, is it better to finish your career by suddenly disappearing (burning out) or gradually dying out (fading away)? It’s a controversial question, as you’ll discover in this podcast.

If you are “in the know,” you have information that other people typically don’t have or understand. As listeners of Crosby’s 9, you are in know; you know the secrets and tips required for improving your English. Also in this podcast, an easy to understand explication of the structures “used to,” “usually” and “to be used to.”