BBC Podcasts

Vocabulary get on have a good relationship put someone on the spot (informal) make someone answer a difficult question or make a difficult decision in the moment, often embarrassing them in the process march to your own drum (idiom) do things in your own way; think and behave differently from others sibling brother or sister bossy enjoy telling people what to do spoiled allowed to do or have whatever someone (eg. a child) wants, usually with the result that they behave badly

Introduction A relationship between sisters can be one of the closest there is. Neil and Georgie tune in to a BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour special about sisterhood and teach you some useful vocabulary. This week's question Currently two sisters, Ellie and Rachel Reeves, are senior ministers in the British government. What is Rachel Reeves' government job? a) Home Secretary b) Foreign Secretary c) Chancellor of the Exchequer Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary stay-at-home mum a woman who stays home to take care of her children and manage the household change your mind change an earlier decision you made or opinion you had unresolvable not able to be fixed or brought to a satisfactory resolution cooling-off period a period in which two groups who are arguing can try to improve the situation before taking further action, or, an agreed length of time in which someone can decide not to buy something they have agreed to buy intervene to become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it invariably always; on every occasion

Introduction How is divorce talked about in different countries? Georgie and Phil teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question In Britain, one day of the year in particular is known by divorce lawyers and relationship counsellors as ‘Divorce Day’, but which day is it? a) Christmas Day? b) the first Monday of the new year? or, c) Midsummer’s Day, the 24th of June? Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary puberty stage of life when a person grows from a child into an adult because of changes in the body’s sexual reproductive system emotionally vulnerable have your feelings and emotions easily hurt trivialise make something seem less important than it really is get through (it) manage to survive a difficult experience or challenging period of life over the counter describes medicine that can be bought in a shop without a doctor’s prescription bane of (my) life source or cause of persistent unhappiness or misfortune

Introduction Acne affects people of all ages, but especially teenagers. Neil and Beth listen to a skin doctor talking about the condition and teach you some useful vocabulary. This week's question What proportion of people aged 11 to 30 experience some amount of acne? a) 75%? b) 85%? or c) 95%? Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

By the way, it's time to sleep like a log! So, Good night! 💤

Vocabulary catching forty winks / getting some shut-eye / dozing / taking a nap (idioms) sleeping take in understand sleep on it wait until you’ve had time to think carefully before making a decision deprivation an absence or too little of something important eg. food, sleep fight-or-flight response changes in the human body in response to a life-threatening situation which make us either stay and fight the threat, or run away from it knock-on effect cause other results or events, but not directly

Introduction Why is it so important to get a good night's sleep? Georgie and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question How much of the average person's life is spent asleep? Is it: a) a half? b) a quarter? or, c) a third? Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Key words and phrases: Godfather of someone who started or developed a new idea or thing Many people regard him as The Godfather of reality TV. dubbed given a name describing their achievements I’ve been dubbed The Queen of Karaoke after my performance at the work Christmas party. doomsayer someone who says bad things will happen Lots of people thought he was a doomsayer, but he turned out to be right about the company’s financial situation.