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Suggested terms: VOA, English, Words, Their Stories
Click one for hint, twice for full word
hedge your bets
Meaning: To protect yourself against loss by supporting more than one option.
Example: Investors often hedge their bets by putting money into several industries.
make hay while the sun shines
Meaning: To take advantage of good conditions; not to delay when the time is right.
Example: She studies whenever the house is quiet—making hay while the sun shines.
not worth a hill of beans
Meaning: Worth very little; not important.
Example: His excuse was not worth a hill of beans.
to be on the safe side
Meaning: To act cautiously to avoid risk.
Example: He bought extra supplies to be on the safe side.
pay off
Meaning: To bring good results after effort or investment.
Example: Her hard work paid off when she earned a promotion.
hedge
IPA (UK): /hedʒ/
IPA (US): /hedʒ/
Meaning: A row of bushes or small trees planted to mark a boundary; also used metaphorically to mean protection against loss.
Meaning: A row of bushes or small trees planted to mark a boundary; also used metaphorically to mean protection against loss.
Example: Farmers planted hedges to protect their fields from animals.
hay
IPA (UK): /heɪ/
IPA (US): /heɪ/
Meaning: Dried grass used as food for farm animals.
Meaning: Dried grass used as food for farm animals.
Example: Farmers must gather hay when it is dry to prevent it from rotting.
crop
IPA (UK): /krɒp/
IPA (US): /krɑːp/
Meaning: A plant grown in large amounts for food or other use.
Meaning: A plant grown in large amounts for food or other use.
Example: Beans are one of the most common crops grown on farms.
rent
IPA (UK): /rent/
IPA (US): /rent/
Meaning: Money paid regularly for the use of land or property.
Meaning: Money paid regularly for the use of land or property.
Example: Early English farmers paid rent each year to use the land they worked on.
firm (Latin: firma)
IPA (UK): /fɜːm/
IPA (US): /fɝːm/
Meaning: Originally meant a fixed or unchanging payment; later evolved into the modern meaning of a business.
Meaning: Originally meant a fixed or unchanging payment; later evolved into the modern meaning of a business.
Example: The word “farm” comes from the Latin “firma,” meaning a fixed yearly payment.
Other Listening Exercises
Expressions That Come From Farming
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