Thinking in English
Thomas Wilkinson
- 25 minutes 46 seconds361. What Are Idioms, Euphemisms, and Slang? (And Should You Learn Them?) (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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Have you ever heard someone say, “kick the bucket” or “pass away,” and felt confused? They both have the meaning of “die”… but are used in different contexts.
English, like all languages, is full of phrases and expressions that don’t always make sense if you look at the words literally.
Native speakers use this kind of language all the time… in conversations, TV shows, songs, and workplaces. But for English learners, idiomatic and informal expressions can be some of the hardest parts of the language to understand.
In today’s episode, we’re going to explore idioms, euphemisms, and slang. These are three important (and sometimes confusing) types of everyday English. We’ll talk about what they mean, why native speakers use them, and whether you should spend time learning and using them yourself.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clearer idea of how these kinds of expressions work and how understanding them can help you sound more natural and follow native-level conversations more easily.
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/11/10/361-what-are-idioms-euphemisms-and-slang-and-should-you-learn-them-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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10 November 2025, 3:00 am - 24 minutes 26 seconds360. What is Wales? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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When people think of the United Kingdom, they often think of England. Maybe, on a rare occasion, they might also think of Scotland. But the United Kingdom is made up of four historic countries, including the proud nation of Wales.
Wales is a small country with a big identity. It has its own language, culture, and its own parliament. Yet many people around the world know surprisingly little about it.
In today’s episode, we’re going to explore what Wales really is. We’ll discuss its geography, history, language, and culture.
Along the way, I’ll try to emphasise what makes Wales unique within the United Kingdom and introduce you to some new and useful English vocabulary!
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/11/03/360-what-is-wales-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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3 November 2025, 3:00 am - 17 minutes 12 seconds359. History of Vampires (English Vocabulary Lesson)
When you hear the word vampire, what comes to mind? Dracula? The Twilight books? Ancient castles in Transylvania?
What if I told you that vampire stories are much older, and much stranger, than you think?
In today’s Halloween special episode of Thinking in English, we’re going to explore the history of vampires. We’ll start with ancient superstitions and medieval fears, move on to the vampires of literature, and finally look at how vampires appear in modern culture.
Along the way, we’ll ask an important question: Why do humans invent blood-drinking monsters?By the end of this episode, you’ll understand where vampire myths came from, why they terrified people for centuries, and you’ll have learned some new English vocabulary along the way!
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/10/27/history-of-vampires-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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27 October 2025, 3:00 am - 21 minutes 16 seconds358. History of Rome (English Vocabulary Lesson)
When you imagine the city Rome, what comes to mind?
Maybe the Colosseum, the Vatican, one of the largest empires in history, or delicious pasta? Rome isn’t just Italy’s capital; it’s also one of the most influential cities in human history.
In today’s Thinking in English episode, we are going to take a journey through time, from the mythical founding of the city by Romulus and Remus, through the Roman Republic and Empire, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and finally to modern Rome. I’m not an expert on Italian history, but I loved researching this episode and I think this is such an interesting topic.
You’ll discover its myths, politics, art, and language, and of course learn plenty of useful English vocabulary along the way.
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/10/20/history-of-rome-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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20 October 2025, 3:00 am - 17 minutes 20 seconds357. The Great Fire of London: Passive Voice (English Grammar Lesson)
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In 1666, most of London was destroyed. Over 13,000 houses were burned, thousands of people were made homeless, and the entire city had to be rebuilt. The event I’m talking about is one of the most famous disasters in English history: the Great Fire of London.
Today, I want to tell you this story, but with a special focus. You’re going to learn about history, while also learning some English grammar.
The Great Fire is a perfect example of when we use the passive voice in real English. Disasters are often described with the passive because the actions are more important than the people who did them. We don’t always know who was responsible, and sometimes it doesn’t matter. What matters is what happened.
So in this episode, I’ll share the story of the Great Fire of London, and we’ll look together at how the passive voice is used. At the beginning I’ll guide you through a short grammar lesson to help you use the passive voice, and then you’ll hear plenty of natural examples while talking about the Great Fire of London!
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/10/06/the-great-fire-of-london-passive-voice-english-grammar-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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13 October 2025, 3:00 am - 22 minutes 21 seconds356. What is a Podcast? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
What actually is a podcast?
You probably think you know. You might think you are listening to one right now. But are you actually?
The definition of the word podcast has been changing over the past few years. I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently, especially with platforms like Spotify and YouTube changing how we listen and what podcast means.
Video podcasts, for example, are everywhere now (including Thinking in English) and some podcasts don’t even use the traditional RSS feed anymore. It made me wonder: What actually is a podcast?
In today’s episode, I want to explore this question from different angles. We’ll start with the etymology of the word of the word podcast, move on to the technology that made podcasts possible, look at the content that defines them, discuss how definitions are changing today, and finally, consider what the future might hold!
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/10/13/356-what-is-a-podcast-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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6 October 2025, 3:00 am - 25 minutes 33 seconds355. My Greatest Language Challenge: Learning to Drive in Another Language (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Imagine learning to drive… joining classes, talking to driving instructors, and taking theory exams in a foreign language. That’s exactly what I just did. Two weeks ago, I passed my Japanese driving test!
It wasn’t easy. I went from knowing almost nothing about Japanese road signs, traffic rules, or driving terminology to passing both my provisional and main license written tests on the first try. I also completed over 60 hours of lessons, both online and in a car, all entirely in Japanese.
In this episode, I want to share what this experience taught me about language learning: how you can absorb hundreds of new words, understand complex grammar, and actually use all of it in real life… much faster than I ever thought possible.
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/09/29/355-my-greatest-language-challenge-learning-to-drive-in-another-language-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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- INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/)
Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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29 September 2025, 3:00 am - 23 minutes 54 secondsMrBeast & The Global Water Crisis (English Learning for Curious Minds)
This is a podcast feed swap with the amazing English Learning for Curious Mind Podcast
Is there a global water crisis, and what happens when the world’s most popular YouTuber, MrBeast, builds 100 wells across Africa?
In this episode, we explore some of the reasons why billions of people around the world still don't have access to clean water, and look at what happens when a Western influencer becomes involved.
Show Notes
- MrBeast's viral video builds 100 wells in Africa
- Wells provide water for half a million people
- Highlights of the global water crisis athe nd lack of infrastructure
- Key reasons: geography, money, mismanagement, and neglect
- Criticism of performative charity and "white saviour" narrative
- Debate on dependency vs. self-sufficiency in aid
- Importance of local expertise for system maintenance
- Raising awareness and funds for global water projects
- Costs and benefits of securing clean water globally
- Role of different actors in solving the water crisis
Check out English Learning for Curious Minds - https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts
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26 September 2025, 3:00 pm - 20 minutes 15 seconds354. What is Gerrymandering? And Other Useful Political Terms! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
In today’s episode, I am going to talk about a very interesting political topic: gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering is when politicians create voting districts in a way that gives one political party an advantage over the others.
This topic is incredibly relevant right now, and constantly in the news in the USA. This year, Texas and some other US states have decided to redraw their congressional maps.
This is, of course, causing a lot of political tension and debate across the country.
In this episode, I will explain what gerrymandering is, why it happens, whether it should be allowed, and then I will also look at some other unusual English political words and phrases!
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/09/22/354-what-is-gerrymandering-and-other-useful-political-terms-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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22 September 2025, 3:00 am - 18 minutes 21 seconds353. Marie Curie: The Greatest Scientist of All Time? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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Today, we’re diving into the fascinating life of Marie Skłodowska Curie. Was she the greatest scientist ever?
Well… maybe!
She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields, and a true pioneer in the study of radioactivity.
In this episode, we’ll explore her life, achievements, struggles, and lasting legacy of one of the most influential scientists of all time.
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/09/15/353-marie-curie-the-greatest-scientist-of-all-time-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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15 September 2025, 3:00 am - 20 minutes 36 seconds352. What is the United Nations Security Council? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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In recent weeks the United Nations Security Council has met to discuss Israel’s planned military expansion in Gaza, to reject the creation of a rival government in Sudan, and hear reports of conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and at the Thailand/Cambodia border.
The Security Council is a powerful, yet controversial, organisation at the centre of the United Nations. They have an immense amount of power, but this power is concentrated in the hands of just 5 countries.
Today I want to think about 2 questions. What exactly is the UN Security Council, and why does it have so much influence over international peace and security?
In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’re going to look at the history of the Security Council, how it works, and the difference between permanent and temporary members.
We’ll talk about its goals and powers, examine some of the criticisms it faces, and think about what the future might hold for one of the most powerful organisations in the world.
- Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
- TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/09/08/352-what-is-the-united-nations-security-council-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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