English's 'Mile' Expressions Are a Mile Long
2022-06-26
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1And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
2In the United States, many people use the English system for measuring.
3While some people use the metric system, our idioms and expressions often stick with measurement words from the English system.
4Today, we talk about expressions using the word mile.
5And we have miles and miles of them! That means we have a lot.
6For example, if you can run a mile a minute, you can run very fast.
7So, we can use the expression "a mile a minute" to describe people who do things very quickly.
8For example, Sarah was very excited about her trip! When she told us about it, she talked a mile a minute.
9We could barely follow what she was saying!
10Here is another example. Sam is a very quick problem-solver.
11His brain seems to work a mile a minute.
12Now, when we talk about running a race, we use both kilometers and miles.
13However, when we use the expression "go the extra mile," we only use mile.
14If you run a race that is 10 miles long and you run 11 miles, you have run farther than others and farther than needed.
15So, when we go the extra mile, we do more than is asked of us.
16We do this to prove we are hardworking or dedicated to something.
17For example, many friends were only supposed to collect used books for a literary organization.
18But Tory went the extra mile; she delivered the books to needy families in the community.
19A mile is equal to 1.6 kilometers.
20That is far enough away that you cannot see, smell, or notice something.
21Well, at least it should be.
22So, if we say, "I could see that from a mile away," it means something is very noticeable.
23For example, I can spot a liar from a mile away.
24That means I am very good at detecting people who do not tell the truth.
25Even if they are a mile from me, I can tell.
26If a scent is very strong, you could say you smell it from a mile away.
27I don't know what cologne that man was wearing, but I could smell it a mile away.
28To be a million miles away is even farther. We often use that expression to mean lost in thought.
29If I am a million miles away, I seem very far away from the those around me.
30We can also use it to compare things.
31For example, her goals for her future and her parent's goals for her future were a million miles apart.
32The two goals had nothing in common.
33Our last expression describes people who are selfish and greedy.
34They always want more.
35If you give some people a little of something, they will often take a lot.
36I knew a woman who was like that.
37Every time I "gave her an inch, she took a mile."
38She always wanted more from the people around her.
39And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
40If you are listening to VOA Learning English to improve your English, then you are truly going the extra mile. Good job!
41Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. 2In the United States, many people use the English system for measuring. While some people use the metric system, our idioms and expressions often stick with measurement words from the English system. 3Today, we talk about expressions using the word mile. And we have miles and miles of them! That means we have a lot. 4For example, if you can run a mile a minute, you can run very fast. So, we can use the expression "a mile a minute" to describe people who do things very quickly. 5For example, Sarah was very excited about her trip! When she told us about it, she talked a mile a minute. We could barely follow what she was saying! 6Here is another example. Sam is a very quick problem-solver. His brain seems to work a mile a minute. 7Now, when we talk about running a race, we use both kilometers and miles. However, when we use the expression "go the extra mile," we only use mile. If you run a race that is 10 miles long and you run 11 miles, you have run farther than others and farther than needed. 8So, when we go the extra mile, we do more than is asked of us. We do this to prove we are hardworking or dedicated to something. For example, many friends were only supposed to collect used books for a literary organization. But Tory went the extra mile; she delivered the books to needy families in the community. 9A mile is equal to 1.6 kilometers. That is far enough away that you cannot see, smell, or notice something. Well, at least it should be. So, if we say, "I could see that from a mile away," it means something is very noticeable. 10For example, I can spot a liar from a mile away. That means I am very good at detecting people who do not tell the truth. Even if they are a mile from me, I can tell. 11If a scent is very strong, you could say you smell it from a mile away. I don't know what cologne that man was wearing, but I could smell it a mile away. 12To be a million miles away is even farther. We often use that expression to mean lost in thought. If I am a million miles away, I seem very far away from the those around me. 13We can also use it to compare things. For example, her goals for her future and her parent's goals for her future were a million miles apart. The two goals had nothing in common. 14Our last expression describes people who are selfish and greedy. They always want more. If you give some people a little of something, they will often take a lot. I knew a woman who was like that. Every time I "gave her an inch, she took a mile." She always wanted more from the people around her. 15And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. 16If you are listening to VOA Learning English to improve your English, then you are truly going the extra mile. Good job! 17Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. 18Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. 19________________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21dedicated - adj. devoted to a cause, ideal, or purpose 22detecting - v. to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of 23scent - n. an odor that is given off by someone or something 24cologne - n. a perfumed liquid composed of alcohol and fragrant oils 25greedy - adj. having or showing a selfish desire for more than is needed