Idiom of the Week: Jam-Packed or Nuts

“Let’s go to the movie on Monday. The theater will be jam-packed on the weekend.” “Jam-packed” means very full or crowded. “To jam” means to force something into something else, so it makes sense to think that something would be jam-packed after someone jammed a lot...

Word of the Week: Accordion

An accordion is a musical instrument. It has keys to change the note, and a long folded section that can be expanded and compressed. This makes the air flow, which produces sound....

Picture of the Week: Sewing Machine

A sewing machine is a machine that sews. It has a “foot” that holds the cloth while the needle makes a stitch. But a human must guide the cloth so that it sews in the right direction and at the right speed. Have you ever used a sewing machine?...

Phrase of the Week: Free Rein

Jenkins: “What system should we use for—” Boss: “Whatever you want, Jenkins. I’m giving you free rein on this project.” Reins are the long strips of leather or rope that we use to control a horse while riding. In this conversation, Jenkins is the horse, and his boss...

TOEIC Practice Question of the Week

The meeting started late, but that gave me time to retrieve the papers I had forgetting in my office. Where is the mistake? A. started late B. gave me time C. retrieve D. forgetting...