Plain English

" ""Barbie"" has grossed over $1 billion at the box office--not a bad debut for Mattel, a toymaker that had never made a feature film before. Now, Mattel has plans to release movies based on American Girl, Barney, Hot Wheels, and other well-known characters and brands (including Uno, the card game). -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson,...

" A thief drilled a hole into the roof of a California wine store and robbed hundreds of bottles of rare wines and liquors, in one of the biggest wine robberies in state history. The perpetrator, who was caught on camera but not identified, spent four hours in the shop before fleeing after an alarm went off. Plus, learn the English expression ""make off with."" -- At Plain English, we make English...

" Tony Bennett's career peaked before the age of rock-and-roll. When new stars burst onto the scene, it seemed like his style of music belonged to the past. But he reinvented his career and brought his authentic style to new generations. He became an ambassador of the older songs he grew up singing and formed a late-in-life artistic partnership with Lady Gaga. Plus, learn the English idiom ""fall...

" Antonio Dominick Benedetto--later 'Tony Bennett'--had one of the great American entertainment careers. Born in Queens, New York, he rose to fame by singing early American jazz and musical songs. His most famous song was ""I Left My Heart in San Francisco."" But the peak of his popularity came just as rock-and-roll music arrived in America. Plus, learn the phrasal verb ""give way."" -- At Plain E...

" For many in Asia, North America, and Europe, the theme of summer 2023 is heat. That's because the jet stream is caught in an unusual pattern that traps heat over certain places for extended periods. It's called a ""heat dome"" and it forms when the jet stream forms into a wave. Plus, learn the English expression ""cool off."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. --...

" Cruise operator Royal Caribbean is making final preparations to launch the ""Icon of the Seas,"" the first in a new class of cruise ships. The ships are bigger and offer lavish amenities. They also run on fuel cells, which are cleaner than burning fuel oil. Plus, learn the English expression ""set sail."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English...

" Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, launched a new app designed to compete with Twitter. Threads, as the new app is called, attracted over 150 million users in its first few weeks, helped by its close ties with Instagram. But why is Meta trying to break into a part of social media that has never achieved strong profitability? Plus, learn the English expression ""get off to a good...

" ""Wheel of Fortune"" is a game show staple in the kitchens of American homes. Three contestants compete to solve word puzzle games, as millions of Americans play along at home. For the last 40 years, Pat Sajak has been the upbeat host of the show, but he'll retire next year. Plus, learn the English expression ""slip up."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Toda...

" The most popular streaming platforms serve up professional content. But another type of platform focuses on user-generated content. Twitch is famous for letting users watch others play video games and interact with the players. For a long time, Twitch was the dominant player. But now a rival is using its deep pockets and an anything-goes strategy to grab its share of the market. Plus, learn the...

" Age is just a number, but in South Korea, it has been two (or even three) numbers. The country has long maintained a traditional way of calculating a citizen's age, where babies are born age 1 and the whole country adds a year on January 1 instead of on their birthdays. But the country recently adopted the international standard, so everyone got a little younger overnight. Plus, learn the Englis...

" A private army working for the government of Russia turned on the country's official military last month, taking control of a major city and marching toward Moscow. The revolt briefly appeared to be the beginning of a much more serious conflict. But the leader of the revolt halted his advance after just one day. Plus, learn the English expression ""overplay your hand."" -- At Plain English, we m...

" Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate, was a tireless advocate of the Titan and its carbon-fiber design. He insisted the design was ""way safer"" than SCUBA diving and angrily dismissed warnings from experts and former employees about the Titan's design. Now, governments are taking a closer look at this unregulated industry. Plus, learn the English expression ""buyer beware."" -- At Plain Engl...

" Five people died after their submersible 'Titan' imploded deep in the Atlantic Ocean, hours after they left on an exploratory mission to the site of the Titanic shipwreck. On today's lesson, learn about what sponsor OceanGate did and how the Titan's mission was supposed to go. Plus, learn the English expression ""off the coast."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world....

" Comic Sans is a typeface that was designed to be used in cartoon quote bubbles and in other childlike, informal situations. But since the font was included in an early version of Windows, it has been used in situations that are far from what its designer intended--often in tragic or hilarious ways. Plus, learn what it means to ""play a role in"" something. -- At Plain English, we make English le...

" ""The Morning Show"" on Apple TV+ is about morning network news, a light-hearted way to start your day. But the show is anything but fluffy: it's a serious drama with a star-studded cast. The show deals with cutthroat media competition, sexual misconduct, the onset of COVID-19 and more. Plus, learn the English expression ""star in."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern wo...

" Global fish consumption is rising, but natural fisheries have reached their capacity. Fish farming is typically done in oceans and rivers, near where fish normally grow. However, new methods allow farmers to raise salmon and other high-value fish in tanks in warehouses--often far from oceans or rivers. It's also more environmentally-friendly. Plus, learn the English expression ""put to use. "" -...

The Colombian military announced the dramatic rescue of four children who survived alone in the Amazon jungle after their plane crashed on May 1. All adults onboard died in the crash. When rescue teams arrived, there was no sign of the children, leading to a dramatic manhunt to find the surviving kids. They were found alive on June 8, 40 days after the crash. -- At Plain English, we make English l...

" Cold plunges are the new health trend championed by high-fliers and ordinary people alike. By submerging yourself water that's 15 degrees Celsius (or colder!), you can manage stress, reduce muscle soreness, improve your concentration, and more, advocates say. Plus, learn the English expression ""if all else fails."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s fu...

Elizabeth Holmes was a young self-made billionaire entrepreneur until her company was revealed to be a fraud. Now, she's about to serve 11 years in a minimum-security prison. Here's what the facilities are like and how she'll spend her days. Plus, learn the English expression ""serve time." -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including...

" Thousands of Kia and Hyundai cars are stolen every month in the United States. And while that's distressing and expensive for car owners, many more people are affected. Law enforcement, insurance companies, and repair shops are all scrambling to respond to the increase in crime inspired by TikTok and YouTube videos. Plus, learn the English expression ""spend time."" -- At Plain English, we make...

" Thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars have plagued American cities after TikTok and YouTube videos showed just how easy it is to steal them. Certain models sold in the U.S. can be stolen in just 30 seconds with a USB cord--and nothing else. It can be traced to one fateful decision by the carmakers. Plus, learn the English expression ""cut corners."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the...

" Streaming giants of all kinds have spent lavishly on expensive new productions and large content libraries, hoping to win new customers. But the services have often lost money and investors are growing impatient. As streamers focus on profitability, consumes are set to lose out. Plus, learn the English expression ""all of a sudden."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern wo...

" Television changed forever when streaming services like Netflix started producing more (and better) series. Today, we look at three categories of streamers and why they're spending so much. On Thursday, we'll talk about why the age of big spending on series may be about to end. Plus, learn the English expression ""big deal."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. --...

ChatGPT Challenge: Time is running out to join the Plain English ChatGPT Challenge, where we teach you all about the new site that everyone is talking about. Sign up for free at PlainEnglish.com/GPT On today's lesson: Can any one product be for all Americans in an age of polarization? Bud Light is the country's most popular beer brand. But now people from both sides of the cultural divide are prot...

ChatGPT Challenge: Time is running out to join the Plain English ChatGPT Challenge, where we teach you all about the new site that everyone is talking about. Sign up for free at PlainEnglish.com/GPT On today's lesson: Ed Sheeran's 2014 song ""Thinking Out Loud"" has similar musical chords to the 1973 Marvin Gaye hit ""Let's Get It On."" Sheeran was sued in New York for copyright infringement, but...