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...