Weight loss drugs

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260326

food noise: intrusive, unwanted thoughts about food

into the ether: (idiom) completely disappeared; vanished into the air

an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other: (idiom) used to describe a personal dilemma or difficult decision based on an imaginary angel, representing conscience, and an imaginary devil, representing temptation

self-esteem: belief and confidence in your own abilities

on the market: available for sale

side effect: secondary effect of a drug or medicine, usually undesirable or unwanted

How do we adapt to the cold?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260319

first and foremost: more than anything else; used to emphasise the most important feature of something

tolerant of (something): able to endure difficult conditions without being damaged

(be) used to: be familiar with; be accustomed to

yes and no: (idiom) partly and partly not; used when there is no clear answer to a question

subjectively: based on someone’s personal experience rather than objective facts

shiver: shaking movement your muscles make because of feeling cold or frightened

Should we pay more for chocolate?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260312

deforestation: the process of cutting down trees

co-op: a farm owned by its workers

social enterprise: a business that wants to help the community

to trace something back to something: to find out where something has come from

geolocation: data taken from a device which can show you exactly where a person or thing is

remote: at a large distance from places where other people live

Why are some animals black and white?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260305

optical illusion: visual trick where your eyes and brain perceive something that is not really there, or see it differently from how it really is

a whole bunch of (something): a lot of (something)

put off: cause to dislike, lose interest or not do something

giveaway: something that makes it easy for people to discover something secret or unknown

something clicked in my mind: used when you suddenly understand something

black-and-white: subject or situation where it is easy to understand what is right and wrong

The power of pepper

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260226

give a kick: provide extra stimulation or excitement

catalyst: something that causes another action to start, or speeds it up

like an exclamation mark: used to describe something which shows strong emotion, surprise or excitement

(food) maturity: stage when a food item is fully grown and ready for harvest

grind: crush into powder by pressing between two hard surfaces

keen on (something): like, be interested in, or want to do (something)

Dreaming of being a chef

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260219

CV/curriculum vitae: document listing someone’s education, qualifications and work experience, which is written when looking for a job

aim high: be ambitious

the worst they can do is say no: phrase meaning ‘don’t be afraid of trying to do something for fear of rejection’

catapult: suddenly accelerate or launch forward

signature: something typical or associated with a particular person or place; something a person or place is known for

stand out: be very noticeable or better compared to other similar things

Artistic swimming

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260212

solo: done by one person alone

duet: done by two people

hide behind a smile: (idiom) hide painful feelings by presenting a happy outward appearance

on the other hand: used to introduce a contrasting opinion

chillin’: (slang) relaxing

respite: a break from doing something difficult

Rethinking dyslexia

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260205

life skill: essential skill which is useful or important in everyone’s life, such as reading, cooking, problem-solving or time management

superpower: ability or capacity to do something that other people cannot do

spy: person who secretly collects information about another country’s government or organisations

read people: ability to understand people’s real intentions through their behaviour and body language

value (something): consider something important

reach for the stars: (idiom) have high or ambitious aims; try to achieve something difficult even if it seems impossible