Why you need a good night’s sleep

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-241031

catching forty winks / getting some shut-eye / dozing / taking a nap: (idioms) sleeping

take in: understand

sleep on it: wait until you’ve had time to think carefully before making a decision

deprivation: an absence or too little of something important eg. food, sleep

fight-or-flight response: changes in the human body in response to a life-threatening situation which make us either stay and fight the threat, or run away from it

knock-on effect: cause other results or events, but not directly

Divorce: Why does it happen?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-241024

stay-at-home mum: a woman who stays home to take care of her children and manage the household

change your mind: change an earlier decision you made or opinion you had

unresolvable: not able to be fixed or brought to a satisfactory resolution

cooling-off period: a period in which two groups who are arguing can try to improve the situation before taking further action, or, an agreed length of time in which someone can decide not to buy something they have agreed to buy

intervene: to become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it

Tech that refuses to die

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-241017

obsolete: no longer in use, having been replaced by something newer, better or more fashionable

if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: (idiom) used to say that if something is working satisfactorily, there is no reason to try to change it

clockwork: machinery using metal springs and wheels which move when wound up with a key

QWERTY: the traditional typewriter arrangement of keys in which the top line begins with the letters q,w,e,r, t and y

verbatim: using exactly the same words as were originally used

stick with: continue using or doing something

Did Taylor Swift fans cause an earthquake?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-241010

(someone or something) rocks your world: someone or something has a positive effect on you, making your life enjoyable

peak: the highest point of something

in unison: together, at the same time

flex: bend without breaking

not be in the same league: (idiom) not nearly as good or important as someone or something else

comparable: similar (in size, amount or quality) to something else

What decides our taste?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-241003

broaden (or expand) your horizons: investigate something in a new way in order to increase the range of your knowledge, understanding or experience

chastise: strongly punish or criticise

colour-blind: unable to see the difference between certain colours, especially green and red

pointless: without purpose or meaning, and a waste of time

I would say that, wouldn’t I?: of course I would say that; used to imply there’s some reason that what the speaker is saying is obviously biased towards them

subjective: based on personal opinions and feelings rather than on objective facts

Learning a new food culture

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240926

comfort zone: situation in which a person feels secure, comfortable, or in control

adapt: change to successfully deal with a new situation

staple: basic and important type of food that is regularly eaten by a large portion of the population

be in for a shock: be guaranteed to experience a surprising or unpleasant situation

tweak: small adjustment to something in order to improve it

trial and error: way of solving a problem by trying a number of different methods and learning from the mistakes you make

Saving water in the driest place on Earth

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240919

drain: remove the liquid from something by pouring it out or letting it flow away

cling: stick or hold onto something very tightly

kick-start: make something start to happen or develop more quickly

manipulate: skilfully use or control something

down the line: at some unspecified point in the future

only time will tell: (idiom) the real results of something happening now will not be known until some time in the future

Keeping kids off smartphones

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240912

at the end of the day: after all the relevant facts have been considered

bestie: (slang) best friend

(be) torn between: find it difficult to choose between two possibilities, leaving you feeling anxious or worried

nightmare: a very unpleasant experience, situation or event

go viral: spread quickly and widely on the internet through social media and email

right in front of your eyes: used to emphasise that something surprising or unusual happened directly before you

Less salt, better health

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240905

preserve (food): food to prevent it from rotting so that it can be stored and eaten later

nomads: people who travel from one place to another, often with animal livestock, rather than living in one place all the time

dairy products: food which is made from milk, for example butter, cheese or yoghurt

take a step back: (idiom) temporarily withdraw from a situation in order to think about it more calmly

look at the bigger picture: (idiom) consider the overall meaning of something as opposed to specific details

premature: happening too soon or before the proper time