Was Christmas better in the past?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251225

nostalgia :a feeling of happiness and also some sadness when you think about a thing that happened in the past

indeed (+ do in present simple): yes, used to agree

dying for (something): really want (something)

rose-tinted: seeing only the positive parts of something and not the negative

function: purpose

frame (verb): think of or describe as

Finding and eating wild food

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251218

horticulturalist: person who studies or grows plants like flowers, fruit and vegetables

deep knowledge: thorough understanding of a subject, gained from experience and study, that goes beyond the basic facts

scanning: searching a wide area with your eyes to find some particular thing

a hundred and ten percent: above and beyond what is expected; when referring to certainty, it means without any doubt

stigma: negative belief about something which is unfair or untrue

exercise caution: act with care and attention to avoid possible risks or dangers; be careful

How are horses helping to heal humans?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251211

umbrella term: term used to describe a large number of different things which all belong to a single common category

grooming: brushing and cleaning the coat of hair of a horse, dog or other animal

hours/days on end: for hours/days continuously, without stopping

puberty: stage of life when a child grows into an adult because of changes in their body which allow them to have children

(child) in care: (child) who is looked after by the local authorities because they cannot be cared for by their parents or family; also known as a ’looked after child'

bond of trust: strong feeling of reliance and confidence between two people

What’s your favourite flavour of crisp?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251204

you can’t beat that: (idiom) something is the best and you won’t find anything better

snowball effect: situation where one action causes many other similar actions to happen

personal preference: an individual’s subjective liking or disliking for something, based on their personal taste and opinion

part and parcel: (idiom) essential feature or element of something

go-to: relied upon to be the best thing for a particular purpose or situation

guacamole: paste made of mashed avocado, lime juice and salt

How are influencers affecting politics?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251127

turned off: uninterested; repulsed

super (+ adjective): very, extremely, more than usual

shape the narrative: have a strong influence over how something is presented or understood

branch out (into): start doing something different from what you usually do

pushback: negative reaction to something new that has happened

dig up: search for hidden or forgotten information, often details that could damage someone’s reputation

Do you have good dining etiquette?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251120

dos and don’ts: rules about how you should and should not behave in a particular situation

first impression: the opinion you form about someone when you meet them for the first time

picky: used to describe someone who is too strict about rules

clink glasses: touch two drinking glasses together as a gesture of friendship

toast: show of respect for someone that involves holding up and drinking from a glass of alcohol

a no-no: (informal) something that is thought to be socially unsuitable or unacceptable

How important is play?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251113

at first glance: seeing something for the first time, before having a chance to consider it more carefully

hidey-hole: small place for hiding things in, or hiding yourself in

tend to (do something): do something often and be likely to do it again in the future

by far: by a great amount

one hundred percent: (informal) completely; used to emphasise that you agree completely with a statement

coping strategies: psychological ways of managing the stress of emotionally challenging situations

Do you like garlic?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251106

versatile: having many different uses or purposes

it’s unimaginable: used to say that something is difficult to imagine because it’s so good, bad, large, etc

ailment: illness or minor health problem

aphrodisiac: food or drink believed to increase sexual desire

abstain (from something): choose not to do something

stimulate: encourage or cause to grow, develop or become active