VOA · Words and Their Stories
Advanced · C1learner speed4:422024-10-24public 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.
02Butterflies are delicate insects.
03Their wings are thin and can be easily damaged.
04So how can a butterfly cause major things to happen?
05That is the idea behind the expression, butterfly effect.
06The theory goes like this.
07When a butterfly flaps its wings on one side of the planet, it can make a small change that, over time, could lead to a big event, like a storm, all the way on the other side of the planet.
08The butterfly effect is when very small changes lead to large and unpredictable changes in the future.
09For example, let's say a group of television writers demand higher pay.
10Their employers refuse.
11So the writers go on strike.
12Then television actors join the strike.
13Their action forces the television industry to stop production.
14Then other businesses that support that industry are affected.
15And so are the towns and communities where those businesses are centered.
16These changes all resulted from that first demand for higher pay.
17A similar expression involves the game of dominoes.
18The domino effect.
19Dominoes are small rectangular game pieces.
20One way to play with dominoes is to set them up in a line or pattern.
21Then you push the domino at the start of the line into the one next to it.
22And so on and so on.
23Until all the dominoes fall down.
24You started the domino effect with your single push of a single domino.
25The butterfly effect and domino effect are chain reactions.
26One thing leads to another.
27We often say that something sets off a chain reaction.
28Here is an example.
29The angry argument between the two friends set off a chain reaction of events that no one could have predicted.
30One thing led to another and now they are enemies.
31You can also call this a chain of events.
32Like butterfly effect and domino effect, one event causes or triggers the next one to happen.
33Now let's hear two friends use some of these expressions.
34Hey, I'm having the official opening for my bookstore this weekend.
35You should stop by.
36I will.
37And congratulations.
38You've been working on that for a while.
39Nearly a year.
40There are so many steps in starting a business.
41How did you begin?
42It was a domino effect.
43As soon as I finished the first thing, the next thing to do became clear.
44And the next.
45And the next.
46Sounds like starting that chain of events was important.
47Absolutely.
48As a writer, did you always want to own a bookstore?
49It's funny you ask.
50When I was little, my friend's parents owned a bookstore.
51I'd hang out there for hours.
52It's like the butterfly effect.
53Something that happened a long time ago affected your future today.
54Hmm.
55That sounds like a good story to write.
56And that's Words and Their Stories.
57Until next time, I'm Ana Mateo.
58Thank you.
59Thank you.
60Thank you.
61Thank you.
62Thank you.
63Thank
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