Episode overview

TikTok isn’t just a social media app anymore — it’s at the center of a billion-dollar power struggle. U.S. lawmakers forced ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or shut them down, and now a deal is finally starting to come together.

In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, I’ll explain the story behind TikTok’s negotiations and teach you 4 useful phrasal verbs/idioms you can use in business, politics, and everyday English — with Spanish translations and real examples.

What you’ll learn today

• come together – to gradually form or be completed
• En español: tomar forma / concretarse
• hold on to – to keep or retain something
• En español: conservar / mantener
• hammer out – to work hard to resolve or finalize details
• En español: negociar a fondo / resolver
• raise eyebrows – to cause surprise or disapproval
• En español: generar sorpresa / causar sospechas

Practice prompts

• Can you think of a project at work that finally came together after lots of effort?
• Is there something in your career you’d like to hold on to even if other things change?
• Have you ever had to hammer out a tough negotiation?
• What’s something that recently raised eyebrows in your workplace?

Key takeaway

TikTok’s U.S. future is more than just one company’s story — it could set the rules for how foreign tech firms do business in America. And for English learners, it’s the perfect way to pick up new phrasal verbs while following a story that’s making headlines.

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