Episode overview

The U.S. Federal Reserve just cut interest rates by 0.25% (25 basis points) — but why does this matter, and how does it affect not just the U.S. but the entire world?

In this finance edition of Phrasal Verb News, I’ll explain the Fed’s decision in simple terms, show how it impacts inflation, jobs, and global markets, and teach you 4 phrasal verbs/idioms to talk about economic cause and effect.

What you’ll learn today

• keep something in check – to control or limit something
• En español: mantener bajo control
• take a back seat to – to become less important than something else
• En español: pasar a segundo plano
• better off / worse off – to be in a better or worse situation
• En español: estar en una mejor o peor situación
• ripple effect – when one action causes many effects
• En español: efecto dominó / efecto en cadena

Practice prompts

• What’s one thing you try to keep in check in your daily life?
• What goals in your life sometimes take a back seat to urgent needs?
• Is your country better off or worse off after recent economic changes?
• Can you think of a decision at work that had a ripple effect on many people?

Key takeaway

The Fed’s decision shows how a small change in Washington can create a ripple effect across the globe — shaping trade, investment, and even prices. The goal is for people to be better off, not worse off, but the outcome depends on how the economy reacts in the coming months.

Connect

✉️ Contact: [email protected] for 1:1 or group classes.

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for daily episodes of Phrasal Verb News.

Episode overview

The U.S. Federal Reserve just cut interest rates by 0.25% (25 basis points) — but why does this matter, and how does it affect not just the U.S. but the entire world?

In this finance edition of Phrasal Verb News, I’ll explain the Fed’s decision in simple terms, show how it impacts inflation, jobs, and global markets, and teach you 4 phrasal verbs/idioms to talk about economic cause and effect.

What you’ll learn today

• keep something in check – to control or limit something
• En español: mantener bajo control
• take a back seat to – to become less important than something else
• En español: pasar a segundo plano
• better off / worse off – to be in a better or worse situation
• En español: estar en una mejor o peor situación
• ripple effect – when one action causes many effects
• En español: efecto dominó / efecto en cadena

Practice prompts

• What’s one thing you try to keep in check in your daily life?
• What goals in your life sometimes take a back seat to urgent needs?
• Is your country better off or worse off after recent economic changes?
• Can you think of a decision at work that had a ripple effect on many people?

Key takeaway

The Fed’s decision shows how a small change in Washington can create a ripple effect across the globe — shaping trade, investment, and even prices. The goal is for people to be better off, not worse off, but the outcome depends on how the economy reacts in the coming months.

Connect

✉️ Contact: [email protected] for 1:1 or group classes.

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for daily episodes of Phrasal Verb News.

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.

Subscribe & Connect

🎧 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for daily episodes.

✉️ Contact: [email protected]

Episode overview

Rudeness isn’t just bad manners — it’s expensive. A new study from the Society for Human Resource Management found that workplace rudeness costs U.S. businesses $2.1 billion every single day. That’s 208 million acts of rudeness: being short in an email, cutting someone off in a meeting, talking down to colleagues, putting others down, or even talking behind someone’s back.

In today’s episode of Phrasal Verb News, we’ll break down what these phrases mean, give real-world business examples, and explain how small behaviors can add up to big costs.

What you will learn

• be short with someone – to speak in a curt or unfriendly way
• En español: ser cortante con alguien
• cut someone off / talk over – to interrupt someone while they’re speaking
• En español: interrumpir / hablar por encima
• talk down to someone – to speak as if the person is less intelligent
• En español: hablar con condescendencia / tratar como inferior
• put someone down – to insult or humiliate someone
• En español: menospreciar / humillar
• talk behind someone’s back – to criticize someone when they aren’t present
• En español: hablar a espaldas de alguien
• stem from – to come from or be caused by something
• En español: provenir de / originarse en

Practice prompts

• Has anyone ever been short with you in an email or message? How did you feel?
• Do people in your company often cut each other off in meetings?
• How do you react when someone talks down to you at work?
• What’s the best way to respond if someone puts you down?
• Why do you think people talk behind others’ backs instead of addressing problems directly?
• Do most workplace conflicts stem from personal issues or professional disagreements?

Why listen?

This episode shows how everyday English phrases describe real workplace behaviors — and why they matter for productivity and company culture. By learning these expressions in context, you’ll sound more natural in meetings while also understanding the deeper impact of communication at work.

Connect

✉️ Email me at [email protected] for private or group classes.

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next episode of Phrasal Verb News.

Episode overview

After a week of protests, violence, and heavy headlines, it’s time for something different. In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, we focus only on positive, funny, and uplifting stories — no politics, no scandals, no negativity. Just good news that can brighten your day and help you learn useful English expressions.

First, we go to Colorado, where hikers climbing a 14,000-foot mountain were surprised by a man dressed as an ice cream cone handing out frozen treats at the summit. Word got around fast, and people were worried the supply would run out before they reached the top.

Next, we travel to Italy, where an Argentine traveler booked an Airbnb only to discover it turned out to be her father’s childhood home. With the help of her hosts, she was able to piece together her family history in a moving and unforgettable way.

What you will learn

• word got around – a story spread from person to person
• En español: correr la voz
• run out (of) – to use something until there is none left
• En español: quedarse sin / acabarse
• turn out – to result in an unexpected way
• En español: resultar / terminar siendo
• piece together – to rebuild or understand something from small parts
• En español: reconstruir / armar poco a poco

Practice prompts

• What’s the last piece of news that quickly got around in your office?
• What does your team often run out of: time, patience, or money?
• Can you think of a time something turned out better than expected?
• What’s something you’ve had to piece together at work?

Why listen?

This episode is designed to give you both a smile and new vocabulary. You’ll hear inspiring, lighthearted stories while practicing phrasal verbs you can use in business and everyday English.

Connect

✉️ Email me at [email protected] for private or group classes.

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next episode of Phrasal Verb News.

Episode overview

At a Hyundai factory in Alabama, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out a dramatic raid. Workers on the assembly line were suddenly told to drop what they were doing and line up to be questioned. By the end of the day, 475 employees were arrested in what ICE described as a major undertaking.

The raid is part of a sweeping policy to crack down on illegal immigration and hiring practices. But it has already come under fire from community leaders who say the approach was far too aggressive.

In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, we’ll break down the story and learn four useful phrasal verbs and idioms you can use in your professional life.

What you will learn

• drop what you’re doing – to immediately stop your current activity
• En español: dejar lo que estás haciendo
• crack down (on) – to take strong measures to stop something
• En español: reprimir / tomar medidas enérgicas contra
• come under fire – to be criticized or attacked verbally
• En español: ser criticado / estar bajo fuego
• major undertaking – a very large or difficult project
• En español: gran proyecto / esfuerzo importante

Practice prompts

• Have you ever had to drop what you were doing because of an urgent situation?
• What’s something your government or company is cracking down on right now?
• Have you ever seen someone come under fire at work? For what reason?
• What’s the last major undertaking you worked on?

Why listen?

This episode takes a dramatic real-world event and turns it into an English learning opportunity. You’ll understand the news and learn idioms you can use in meetings, negotiations, and business discussions.

Connect

✉️ Email me at [email protected] for private or group classes.

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next episode of Phrasal Verb News.

Episode overview

The board of Tesla wants to pay Elon Musk one trillion dollars — yes, that’s a one followed by 12 zeros. But there are plenty of strings attached. Musk will only get the money if he hits ambitious milestones, from doubling Tesla’s market cap to launching self-driving taxis and humanoid robots. Even then, the payout comes with “golden handcuffs” — he must stay with Tesla for 10 years to collect the full amount.

In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, we’ll explore this record-breaking compensation package and learn idioms and phrasal verbs you can use in your own business English.

What you will learn

• strings attached – hidden conditions or requirements
• En español: condiciones ocultas
• balls in the air / things on your plate – to have many tasks or responsibilities at once
• En español: tener muchas cosas a la vez
• wind down – to reduce activity or gradually stop something
• En español: reducir / ir cerrando
• tied to – connected with or dependent on something
• En español: vinculado a / condicionado por

Practice prompts

• Have you ever accepted an offer that had strings attached?
• Do you prefer having many balls in the air or focusing on one thing?
• What’s something in your work or life you’d like to wind down?
• Is your compensation tied to performance goals?

Why listen?

This episode blends a trending business story — Elon Musk’s trillion-dollar package — with practical English expressions you can use to talk about contracts, negotiations, and workplace performance. Perfect for professionals who want to sound more confident in meetings and discussions.

Connect

✉️ Email me at [email protected] for private or group classes.

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next episode of Phrasal Verb News.

Episode overview

Three brothers from Scotland just set a world record that few would even dare to attempt: rowing across the entire Pacific Ocean. Starting in Peru and finishing in Australia, they rowed over 9,000 miles (14,500 km) in just 139 days — completely unsupported. Along the way they faced storms, seasickness, food shortages, and even a terrifying moment when one brother went overboard.

But they didn’t let it take the wind out of their sails. Their determination paid off — they smashed the previous record by 20 days, raised over £700,000 for clean water projects, and truly made waves in the world of adventure sports.

In today’s episode of Phrasal Verb News, we’ll look at some powerful water- and boat-related idioms that you can use not just for extreme adventures, but in business and everyday life.

What you will learn

• go overboard – to do too much, to exaggerate
• En español: exagerar / pasarse de la raya
• take the wind out of someone’s sails – to discourage someone or reduce their confidence
• En español: desanimar / quitar el impulso
• pay off – to result in a positive or worthwhile outcome
• En español: valer la pena
• make waves – to cause a strong reaction or impact
• En español: causar sensación / generar impacto

Practice prompts

• Can you think of a time someone at work went overboard?
• What situation recently took the wind out of your sails, and how did you bounce back?
• What effort of yours recently paid off?
• Who is making waves in your industry right now

Why listen?

This story is both inspiring and educational — showing how endurance and teamwork can pay off, while also giving you idioms you can confidently use in meetings, presentations, and professional conversations.

Connect

✉️ Email me at [email protected] for private or group classes.

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next episode of Phrasal Verb News.

Episode overview

This week, Nestlé’s CEO was forced out after an internal investigation revealed he had crossed the line with a subordinate. The scandal came to light thanks to a whistleblower hotline, and the board quickly moved to replace him. In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, we look at what happens when leaders dip the pen in company ink — and we also learn many ways to talk about quitting, resigning, or getting fired in English.

What you will learn

💼 Ways to talk about ending a job in English:

• fired / sacked / canned – harsh, informal ways to say someone lost their job
• En español: despedido
• laid off / let go – softer terms, often used when it’s not the employee’s fault
• En español: recortado / despedido sin culpa
• resign / step down – formal ways to say you chose to leave
• En español: renunciar / dimitir
• quit – the direct way to say you left by choice
• En español: renunciar

🔑 Phrasal verbs and idioms from the story:

• come to light – to be revealed or discovered
• En español: salir a la luz / descubrirse
• whistleblower – a person who reports wrongdoing inside an organization
• En español: denunciante / informante
• cross the line – to behave in an unacceptable way
• En español: pasarse de la raya / cruzar la línea
• dip the pen in company ink – slang for starting a romantic relationship with a coworker (informal, tongue-in-cheek)
• En español: tener una relación con un compañero de trabajo

Practice prompts

• What’s the difference between being laid off and being fired?
• Can you think of a time when something came to light at your workplace?
• Do you think whistleblowers are well protected in your country?
• Have you seen a colleague cross the line in a meeting or negotiation?

Why listen?

This episode blends real business news with workplace English vocabulary, giving you useful phrases to describe quitting, resigning, or getting fired. You’ll also learn idioms you can apply in meetings, HR discussions, and everyday business conversations.

Connect

✉️ Email me at [email protected] for private or group classes.

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next episode of Phrasal Verb News.

Episode overview

At the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin, China and India surprised the world by agreeing to bury the hatchet after years of border tension. Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi met face-to-face, signaling a desire to patch things up and focus on trade and stability.

The summit also included plans to set up a new Development Bank to reduce dependence on Western institutions, potentially paving the way for projects in technology, green energy, and infrastructure. Leaders also agreed to lay the groundwork for long-term cooperation in security, climate change, and artificial intelligence through 2035.

In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, you’ll learn four powerful phrasal verbs and idioms that apply not just to geopolitics, but also to business and everyday professional life.

What you will learn

• patch up – to fix a damaged relationship
• En español: hacer las paces
• set up – to create or establish something
• En español: establecer
• pave the way – to prepare conditions or make progress easier
• En español: abrir el camino / facilitar
• lay the groundwork – to prepare the foundation for something bigger
• En español: sentar las bases

Practice prompts

• Have you ever had to patch up a professional relationship?
• What is something new you’d like to set up this year?
• What innovation do you think will pave the way for the future in your industry?
• What groundwork do you need to lay now to reach your goals next year?

Why listen?

This episode connects global news with English learning, showing how leaders use cooperation to build the future — and how you can use the same phrasal verbs in your business and career.

Connect

✉️ Email me at [email protected] if you’re interested in private or group classes.

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next episode of Phrasal Verb News.