Episode overview

After the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, the story has shifted to the aftermath — the public reactions, online comments, and professional consequences that followed. From late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to anonymous social media users, many discovered that words can backfire, damage reputations, and even cost jobs.

In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, I’ll explain the story and teach you 5 phrasal verbs and idioms you can use to talk about public reactions, mistakes, and consequences. As always, I’ll give clear definitions, examples, Spanish translations, and practice questions.

What you’ll learn today

• Give your 2 cents – compartir tu opinión
• Capitalize on – aprovecharse de
• Backfire – salir mal / volverse en contra
• Put your foot in your mouth – meter la pata
• Pay the price – pagar el precio

Practice prompts

• Is it always wrong to capitalize on a situation, or can it sometimes be smart business?
• Have you ever made a decision that backfired?
• When was the last time you put your foot in your mouth at work?
• Have you ever had to pay the price for a mistake?

Key takeaway

Free speech means you won’t go to jail for your words — but if your comments cross the line, you may still face professional consequences. The aftermath of Kirk’s killing shows how quickly reputations can be damaged when words are careless or opportunistic.

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