Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Japan increased its consumption tax earlier this month, for the first time in five years, raising the rate from 8% to 10%. The new rate applies to nearly all goods and services, although most food and beverages are exempt from the hike.

So, did you do a lot of shopping ahead of the price hike? Did you rush out to stock up on toilet rolls and toothpaste, beauty supplies, or pet food? As I mentioned earlier, for most food and beverages, the rate remains 8%, but they don't give a break to your pet's food.

Myself? I've just stocked up on some cosmetics, as well as beer and wine.

Finally, before I let you go, I want to make sure you know what the phrase "to stock up on” means and how to use it. To stock up on something means to buy a lot of something in order to keep it for when you need it later.

Now, would you like to practice together? Please repeat after me:
We stock up on canned food when they are on sale.

♪stock up on – 買いだめ

身の回りのあれこれを題材に、日常会話で使えるフレーズを紹介＆解説します。楽しく英語を学びましょう！

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Hi, everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

First of all, we apologize we haven't been updating the podcast for nearly two months. And we have an announcement: Time for English is moving to a new website. You can find our new URL on our current website, which will be closed sometime in January. So, please come and check.

With this renewal, we are shutting down our podcast.

We launched our website and podcast for Time for English in December 2005. Since then, we've been sharing over 1200 posts, Monday and Thursday combined, over the course of 16 years.

We feel a little sad about our decision for the podcast, but you know what they say: All good things must come to an end.

So, Kaori and I would like to thank you for your support and loyalty for all these years. Thank you so much. We are hoping that you continue to be with us at our new home.

Thank you and see you again.

♪All good things must come to an end ～ ポッドキャスト終了のお知らせ

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Are you familiar with the word "pet peeve"?

A peeve is something that annoys you. A pet peeve is a minor annoyance that makes you upset or slightly angry whenever that happens.

We all have pet peeves. You may get upset whenever you see someone clipping their nails in public, or speaking with their mouth full, driving slow in the fast lane, or saying "basically" in every sentence. They can be pet peeves.

Pet peeves tend to be small things, like cracking knuckles and tapping a pen. While people speaking loudly without a mask can be a pet peeve, nobody would call pandemic a pet peeve.

Now, would you like to try a quiz? I'll give you three options. Please listen carefully and choose the one that is TRUE. Ready?

A pet peeve is something that causes:
1. embarrassment
2. anxiety
3. irritation

♪「イラッとする（こと）」は英語で何という？

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

If a meteorologist says in the morning "Another hot day is expected today in Tokyo, with highs in the upper 30s", make sure to stay cool and well hydrated.

Today, you're going to learn how to use the phrase "another hot day".

"Another" means "one more". So, "another hot day" is used when you experience a hot day for two or more consecutive days.

Let's say, you had a very hot day yesterday. And today you're having a very hot day again. Then you can say, "it's another hot day today". If a weather reporter says another hot day is expected today in Tokyo, you may talk to your wife in the kitchen, saying, "Hey honey, (it) looks like it's going to be another hot day in Tokyo!"

Now, let's practice the phrase together, shall we? Please repeat after me:
It looks like it's going to be another hot day.

♪Looks like it’s going to be another hot day!

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

If you ask me if it pays to be able to speak English, my answer is definitely yes. It pays to be fluent in English. You can enjoy books and movies in English. You can make friends in English. You can help people in English. In my case, it even pays my bills.

When people say it pays to do something, it means it's a good idea to do that; it's worth doing that; and doing that will bring a positive result.

For example, it pays to have your teeth professionally cleaned once every six month or even sooner. In other words, it's worth having your teeth cleaned at the dentist at least twice a year. It pays to review your notes after class. And it certainly pays to improve your English.

Now, would you like to try a quiz? I'll give you three options. Please listen carefully and choose the one that is TRUE. Ready?

When someone says it pays to do something, doing that is:
1. necessary
2. worthwhile
3. imperative

♪It pays to be able to speak English!

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

During the Olympics, I often get this question: Should the Olympics take a singular verb or a plural verb? Singular means one. Plural means more than one.

Actually, you can find a lot of discussions about this topic on the web. They offer different answers and suggestions.

What I do is to use a plural verb for the Olympics. I feel safe and comfortable doing so, because even if I were wrong, I could always blame Cambridge.

If you look up the word "the Olympics" in the Cambridge dictionary, it says the word "the Olympics" is a plural noun to mean a set of international sports competitions that happen once every four years. And one of the example sentences says "The Olympics are held every four years".

The same rule applies to the Paralympics. And also make sure to place the definite article or THE in front of both Olympics and Paralympics.

♪stock up on – 買いだめ

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