VOA · Words and Their Stories
Advanced · C1learner speed3:232025-03-13public domain
Words and Their Stories is VOA's classic program about American English expressions and idioms — where phrases like 'break the ice' come from and how to use them. Native-like idioms in slow, clear speech: a rare combination for learners.
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01And now, words and their stories from VOA Learning English.
02Mushrooms are a popular food in many parts of the world.
03Some people even like to go out into the woods or forest to pick wild mushrooms.
04They know which ones to eat and where they grow.
05Mushrooms grow very quickly, often overnight.
06Dark, wet areas in the forest might be without mushrooms one day and filled with fungi by the next day.
07The mushrooms have sprung up overnight.
08To spring up means to appear or develop suddenly or quickly.
09So we can compare things that grow fast or increase suddenly to springing up like mushrooms.
10For example, because there are many online streaming platforms, new programs are springing up like mushrooms.
11We can also use mushroom as a verb, meaning to grow or expand widely and over a short period of time.
12For example, schools in the city improved greatly, and the number of parks increased as well.
13So the number of families moving to the area mushroomed in recent years.
14Good things and bad things can develop quickly.
15If a problem or issue gets bigger very quickly, we can say it mushroomed.
16We can even say something has mushroomed out of control.
17For example, paying your bills on time and keeping track of your spending will prevent money problems from mushrooming out of control.
18We can also use mushroom as a phrasal verb.
19If something mushrooms into something else, it changes very quickly.
20For example, I had planned a simple picnic lunch with two friends.
21But after they invited more people, it mushroomed into a much bigger party with lots of great food.
22Here is another example.
23What began as small edits to my story mushroomed into a complete rewrite.
24And that's the end of Words and Their Stories.
25Until next time, I'm Ana Mateo.
26Thank you.
27Thank you.
28Thank you.
29Thank you.
30Thank you.
31Thank you.
32Thank you.
// transcribed with Whisper AI — reading it is easy; catching it by ear is the skill
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