Phrasal Verb News

Grant Wolters

Learn real English from real news — every day. Join Grant as he takes you through the biggest and most interesting news stories from around the world, explaining useful phrasal verbs, idioms, and natural expressions in context. Each short episode gives you: A quick, clear news summary. Simple explanations of new vocabulary. Examples from both everyday and business English. Practice questions so you can start using the phrases right away. Whether you’re a professional looking to sharpen your Business English or an English learner who wants to sound more natural, Phrasal Verb News helps you build vocabulary, improve listening skills, and stay informed — all in under 5 minutes a day. If you're interested in 1-on-1 English Classes contact me at grant@businessasusualenglish.com for more information !

  1. JAN 27

    How to Hunker Down and Ride Out a Crisis - Phrasal Verb News

    Episode Summary A formidable winter storm is currently gripping the United States. But how do these weather terms apply to your next business meeting? In this episode of our Phrasal Verb News series, we broadcast from Medellin, Colombia, to break down the high-level English used to describe crisis management, extreme weather, and human behavior. What You’ll Learn: The Business of Weather: How terms like formidable and magnitude describe both storms and your toughest competitors.Impact & Infrastructure: What it means when a city (or a server) is crippled or comes to a standstill.Phrasal Verbs in Action: Stock up on: Preparing for the worst by buying essentials.Hunker down: Staying safe during a bad situation.Ride it out: How to endure a difficult period, whether it's a storm or a year of low profits.Social Intelligence: The subtle, professional difference between checking in on someone and catching up with them.The Grammar Hack: A simple trick to never confuse Affect and Effect in your professional emails again. Vocabulary Spotlight: Grounded: Used for planes in a storm and misbehaving children at home.Gripping: Why a great advertisement or presentation is just like a winter freeze. Interactive Practice: Want to master these words? Comment "COLD" on our social media or click the link in the bio to receive the exact exercises I use with my private business clients. Don't forget to check in on your friends in the US and subscribe for more deep dives into the English that moves your career forward.

    5 min
  2. 10/31/2025

    OpenAI on Thin Ice: How “Sora 2” and Adult ChatGPT Opened a Can of Worms - Learn English Phrasal Verbs

    OpenAI just rolled out two controversial new updates that have users and investors asking, “What are they thinking?” The first is Sora 2, a platform some call “TikTok for AI-generated content,” where users can make realistic videos of anyone — living or dead. The second is a new adult-content mode in ChatGPT, approved only for verified users. While OpenAI says these moves are about creative freedom, critics warn they could open a can of worms around copyright, ethics, and profit motives. Some say the company had to resort to risky ideas to bring in new revenue while still banking on its long-term AI vision. But with rising costs and public backlash, many believe OpenAI may now be on thin ice. 🎙️ In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, Grant breaks down the full story and teaches 6 key expressions from the headlines: 💡 Vocabulary You’ll Learn: 1️⃣ Roll out – to launch or introduce something new 2️⃣ Resort to – to do something extreme when there’s no better option 3️⃣ Open a can of worms – to cause new, complicated problems 4️⃣ Bring in – to attract or generate money, users, or attention 5️⃣ Bank on – to depend on or expect something to happen 6️⃣ On thin ice – to be in a risky or unstable situation Each comes with real examples, Spanish translations, and practice questions to help you use them confidently at work or in conversation. ☕ Support the Show: buymeacoffee.com/businessasusualenglish 📩 Contact: grant@businessasusualenglish.com 📚 Learn Real English Through Real Stories — new episodes weekly with news, idioms, and natural business English.

    7 min
  3. 10/29/2025

    The Louvre Heist: How Thieves “Blended In” and Made Off with $100 Million | Phrasal Verb News

    In broad daylight, a group of thieves blended in with construction workers, made off with $100 million worth of Napoleon-era jewels, and slipped through the cracks of one of the most secure museums in the world. In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, Grant breaks down the shocking heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris — how it happened, why investigators are still looking into it, and what English learners can take away (besides the jewels). You’ll learn 5 natural English phrasal verbs that describe investigation, escape, and problem-solving — perfect for both business and everyday use: 💬 Vocabulary from the Episode: 1️⃣ Blend in – to mix into your surroundings and go unnoticed 2️⃣ Make off with – to steal something and escape 3️⃣ Look into – to investigate something carefully 4️⃣ Slip through the cracks – to go unnoticed due to a mistake 5️⃣ Piece together – to connect bits of information to understand a situation 🎙️ Why listen? Because real stories make phrasal verbs unforgettable — and this one feels straight out of a movie. 🧠 Learn Real English Through Real News 👨‍🏫 Host: Grant from Phrasal Verb News 📅 New episodes every week: news, idioms, and business English explained clearly ☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/businessasusualenglish 📩 Contact: grant@businessasusualenglish.com 🎧 Listen anywhere: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

    6 min
  4. 10/17/2025

    The Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Goes off "Without a Hitch"| 6 Phrasal Verbs About Peace, Politics & Negotiation

    After two years of war in Gaza, a historic ceasefire has finally been reached — brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and hammered out in Egypt. The deal was signed off on by both Israel and Hamas, marking what many are calling a rare diplomatic breakthrough. As part of the first phase, Hamas handed over 20 Israeli hostages while Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The exchange nearly collapsed when Hamas delayed sending the list of names, but negotiators managed to sort it out, and the transfer went off without a hitch. Trump later bragged that this wasn’t the first time he had pulled off a big deal — calling it “the most beautiful peace agreement ever made.” In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, Grant breaks down the story and teaches 6 powerful expressions used in business, politics, and everyday life — all connected to negotiation, problem-solving, and success. 💬 Phrasal Verbs from Today’s Episode:1️⃣ Broker (a deal) – to arrange or mediate an agreement. 2️⃣ Sign off on (something) – to officially approve. 3️⃣ Hand over (something) – to give control or possession to someone else. 4️⃣ Go off without a hitch – to happen smoothly and successfully. 5️⃣ Sort out (something) – to resolve a problem or confusion. 6️⃣ Pull off (something) – to achieve something difficult or impressive. 🎙️ Learn real English from real headlines every week with Grant on Phrasal Verb News — the show that helps you sound confident, natural, and informed. ☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/businessasusualenglish 📩 Contact: grant@businessasusualenglish.com 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: Phrasal Verb News

    6 min
  5. 10/15/2025

    🏆 The Nobel Insider Trading Scandal on Polymarket | Learn 5 Phrasal Verbs from Real News

    The Nobel Peace Prize is supposed to honor integrity — but this year, it’s surrounded by controversy. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado shocked the world by winning the Nobel Peace Prize, but three traders weren’t surprised at all — because they had already cashed in on her victory, making more than $90,000 in profit. In this episode of Phrasal Verb News, Grant breaks down how a few insiders may have driven up the odds on a crypto betting site — and how the scandal has brought to light big questions about money, ethics, and the gray areas of online prediction markets. You’ll learn 5 natural English expressions you can use in both business and daily life, all taken directly from this week’s headlines. 💬 Phrasal Verbs from the Episode:1️⃣ Caught off guard – to be surprised by something unexpected. 2️⃣ Drive up – to increase quickly (prices, numbers, etc.). 3️⃣ Cash in – to profit from a situation. 4️⃣ Bring to light – to reveal something hidden. 5️⃣ Gray area – an unclear situation where the rules don’t fully apply. 🎙️ Learn real English through real news with Grant on Phrasal Verb News — the show that helps you sound professional, fluent, and informed about the world. ☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/businessasusualenglish 📩 Contact: grant@businessasusualenglish.com 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: Phrasal Verb News

    6 min

About

Learn real English from real news — every day. Join Grant as he takes you through the biggest and most interesting news stories from around the world, explaining useful phrasal verbs, idioms, and natural expressions in context. Each short episode gives you: A quick, clear news summary. Simple explanations of new vocabulary. Examples from both everyday and business English. Practice questions so you can start using the phrases right away. Whether you’re a professional looking to sharpen your Business English or an English learner who wants to sound more natural, Phrasal Verb News helps you build vocabulary, improve listening skills, and stay informed — all in under 5 minutes a day. If you're interested in 1-on-1 English Classes contact me at grant@businessasusualenglish.com for more information !