American English With Brent

🍁 Learn 11 fun English phrasal verbs and idioms for autumn! These natural expressions will help you sound more like a native speaker while talking about the fall season.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 🍁 Autumn Idioms and Phrasal VerbsFall Apart👉 To break into pieces or stop working emotionally.🧩 After his dog died, he started to fall apart.Fall Behind👉 To not move as fast as others.🧩 She fell behind in her homework after falling and breaking her arm.Fall Through👉 To fail or not happen as planned.🧩 Our trip to the park fell through because it rained all day.Fall for Someone or Something👉 To start liking or loving someone.🧩 He fell for his best friend.Fell for It👉 To be tricked or fooled by someone or something.🧩 I told my brother there was a spider on his shoulder—he totally fell for it!Turn Over a New Leaf👉 To start fresh or change your behavior for the better.🧩 After summer vacation, she turned over a new leaf and studied harder.Bundle Up👉 To put on warm clothes.🧩 It’s cold outside—bundle up before you go out!Change Up👉 To do something in a different way.🧩 I wanted to change up my English learning, so instead of reading a book I listened to a podcast.Drift Off👉 To slowly fall asleep or lose focus.🧩 Last night, I drifted off while reading by the fire, never making it to bed.Rake In👉 To earn a lot of money easily.🧩 The coffee shop rakes in money during the fall festival.Rake Up👉 To collect fallen leaves.🧩 We raked up the leaves in the yard.Blow Over👉 To pass without causing much trouble.🧩 The storm blew over by morning.Leaf Through👉 To look quickly through a book, magazine, or papers.🧩 I leafed through the magazine while waiting for the bus.

🇻🇪 In this English lesson, we explore how Venezuela’s people are suffering under dictatorship and the fear of a possible U.S. invasion. Learn important vocabulary and expressions to understand and discuss this powerful news story in English.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/joinLink to original newscast: https://youtu.be/P3lqs6haNx8?si=b8M61fHISGiPQMNB1. Considering: Thinking carefully about something before making a decision.: She is considering moving to another city for work.2. Soil: The top layer of the earth where plants grow; dirt.: Farmers need good soil to grow healthy crops.3. Combat: To fight against someone or something.: The government is trying to combat teen smoking.4. Under Control: When a problem or situation is being managed and is not dangerous anymore.: The fire is now under control thanks to the firefighters.5. Authoritarian: A person or government that expects people to obey rules without question.: The country is ruled by an authoritarian leader who allows no free speech.6. Covert: Secret or hidden; not done openly.: The spy carried out a covert mission at night.7. To Take Out: To remove or destroy something or someone.: The video game player took out all the robots on the screen.8. Non-Committal: Not showing a clear opinion or decision.: He made a non-committal shrug and changed the subject.9. Feeling Heat: Experiencing pressure or criticism from others.: The player was feeling the heat from the crowd after missing the goal.10. Legitimize: To make something legal or acceptable.: The artist’s success helped legitimize street art as real art.11. Regime Change: When one government is replaced by another, especially by force.: The United States were secretly drawing up plans for a regime change in Venezuela. 12. Carried Out: Done or completed; when an action or plan is performed.: Volunteers carried out repairs on the old playground.13. Narco : A person who sells or moves illegal drugs; short for narcotics dealer.: The police arrested a narco who was smuggling drugs across the border.14. Vessel: A large boat or ship that travels on water.: The navy vessel sailed into the harbor.15. Condemnation: Strong disapproval or saying that something is wrong or bad.: His cruel words earned him condemnation from his friends.16. Full-Fledged: Complete or fully developed.: After years of training, she became a full-fledged pilot.17. Lethal: Able to cause death; deadly.: The snake’s bite can be lethal to humans.18. Verify: To check that something is true or correct.: The reporter must verify all facts before writing the article.19. Blown to Smithereens: Completely destroyed into very small pieces.: The old building was blown to smithereens by the explosion.

✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. Original Link to Newscast: https://youtu.be/8wl3j-ayOJg?si=Vl7camJRGYaZuFeI1. Take My Chances: To try something even if it might not work.: I’ll take my chances and try out for the soccer team.2. You Don’t Mind: You are okay with something; it doesn’t bother you.: I hope you don’t mind if I sit here.3. Incredible: Very good or amazing.: The view from the mountain was incredible!4. Respect: To think someone or something is important and treat them well.: We should respect our teachers and classmates.5. Successful: Doing well; reaching your goals.: She worked hard and became a successful doctor.6. Fantastic: Very good or wonderful.: The food at that new restaurant tastes fantastic.7. Best Seat: The most comfortable or most desired place.: Reporters had the best seat to witness history being made at the trial.8. Roasting: Making jokes about someone in a funny way: My friends were roasting me for being late again. 9. GDP (Gross Domestic Product): The total value of everything a country makes in a year.: The United States has one of the largest GDPs in the world.10. Come Here: To move closer to where the speaker is.: Come here and look at this picture!11. Going Well: Happening in a good or successful way.: My English classes are going well this year.12. 20-Minute Notice: A warning or message given 20 minutes before something happens.: The doctor has to perform emergency surgery with only 20 minutes notice. 13. Complements: something that fits well with something else.: The blue shirt complements your eyes.14. Unique: One of a kind; special or different from others.: The snowflake has a unique shape that no other snowflake has.15. Assembled: Put together or gathered in one place.: The students assembled in the gym for the school meeting.: We assembled all the materials we needed for the science project.

✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. Ceasefire: An agreement to stop fighting for a time.: The two sides agreed to a ceasefire after many days of war.🤝 Brokered: Arranged or helped to make an agreement.: The peace deal was brokered by the United Nations.🪖 Withdrawal: When soldiers or troops leave a place.: The army’s withdrawal from the city began last night.🧍‍♀️ Displaced: Forced to leave your home because of war or danger.: Thousands of people were displaced after the major rainstorm.🚶 Trek: A long and difficult journey on foot.: Families made a long trek back to their homes in Gaza City.🚪 Pulls Out: Leaves or stops being involved; withdrawal : The country pulls out its soldiers from the region.💬 Address : To speak to a group or nation.: The president will address the people about the new ceasefire.🕯️ Remains: What is left of a dead person’s body.: The remains of the victims were found under the building.⚰️ Deceased: Dead (formal).: The deceased were honored in a special ceremony.🧍‍♂️ Hostage: A person held by force during a conflict.: The group released the last hostages after the agreement.🏙️ Hostage Square: A public place where people gather to support or remember hostages.: Families waited at Hostage Square for news about their loved ones.💭 Perhaps: Maybe; not for sure.: Perhaps I will study my English today. Perhaps not. 🌙 Coincide: Happen at the same time.: The baseball game coincides with my meeting, so I will not be able to go.👀 Apparently: It seems like something is true.: Apparently, peace is coming to Gaza.👏 Crediting: Saying that someone deserves praise or thanks.: Many are crediting Egypt for helping to stop the fighting.🛡️ Securing: Making something safe or protected.: The guard was securing the building before going home for the night. 💬 Implied: Suggested something without saying it directly.: She didn’t say it directly, but she implied that she was angry.🕊️ Mediators: People who help two sides solve a problem peacefully.: The mediators worked for days to reach a deal.🌊 Coastal: Near the ocean or sea.: The coastal area is famous for its beaches and seafood.🔙 Head Back: To return to a place.: I forgot my phone, so I had to head back home to get it. 🧩 Pieces to the Puzzle: Parts that help explain or complete a situation.: The detective found the last piece to the puzzle and solved the case.🚑 Red Cross: An international organization that helps people in emergencies, such as wars or natural disasters.: The Red Cross is bringing medicine and food to Gaza.⏳ Phase: A stage or part of a process.: The baby is in a phase where she cries a lot before going to bed.🕊️ Resolution: The ending or solution to a problem or story.: The movie had a happy resolution when the families made peace.

✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 🕊️ Vocabulary for B1 Students1. Handed Over – gave something or someone to another person or group.➡️ The soldiers were handed over to the other side after the peace deal.2. Underway – happening now; already started.➡️ Talks between the two countries are underway in the capital city.3. Sabotaging – trying to stop or damage something on purpose.➡️ She kept sabotaging her own success by showing up late to every interview.4. Summit – a meeting between leaders of countries.➡️ World leaders met at a summit to discuss climate change.5. Captives – people kept as prisoners, often during war.➡️ The captives were finally released after many months.6. Delaying – making something happen later than planned.➡️ The storm is delaying our flight, so we have to wait at the airport.7. Jubilation – great joy and happiness.➡️ There was jubilation in the streets after the team won the championship.8. Custody – being kept by the police or another authority.➡️ The suspect is now in police custody.9. Deal – an agreement between two or more sides.➡️ They made a deal to exchange prisoners for peace.10. Anxious – worried or nervous.➡️ She felt anxious before taking her driving test.11. Batch – a group of things or people that are handled together.➡️ A new batch of aid supplies arrived at the border.12. West Bank – a region in the Middle East that is part of the Israel–Palestine conflict.➡️ Many people live in the West Bank under difficult conditions.13. Reunited – brought back together after being apart.➡️ The families were reunited after the hostages were freed.14. Life Sentence – punishment of spending the rest of one’s life in prison.➡️ He received a life sentence for the crime.15. Occupied – controlled by another group or army.➡️ The city has been occupied by foreign troops for years.16. Emotional – full of strong feelings like sadness, happiness, or anger.➡️ The teacher was emotional when her students graduated.17. Swap – exchange one thing for another.➡️ The soccer players swapped jerseys after the game.18. Accused – said to have done something wrong or illegal.➡️ He was accused of stealing money from the company.

On October 10, 2025, early in the morning (around 7:48 a.m. CDT) a massive explosion struck a munitions / explosives manufacturing facility operated by Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort / McEwen, Tennessee. The blast destroyed at least one building, scattered debris over a half-mile radius, and was felt several miles away.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. Link to original newscast: https://youtu.be/NtxbFti4x98?si=K7-Kmkwba_iAqm_p1. Munitions: Weapons and bullets used in war.: The soldiers loaded their munitions before the battle began.2. Community: A group of people who live in the same area or share something in common.: Our community helped clean the park after the storm.3. Rural: Relating to the countryside, not the city.: Many people in rural areas grow their own food.4. Accurate: Correct and without mistakes.: The teacher said my answer was accurate.5. Facility: A building or place made for a special purpose.: The new sports facility has a big swimming pool.6. Manufactured: Made in a factory using machines.: These shoes were manufactured in Vietnam.7. Assumption: Something you think is true without proof.: My assumption was wrong — he wasn’t late, he was early!8. Delicate: Easily broken or damaged; needing careful handling.: Be careful — the glass vase is very delicate.9. Methodical: Done carefully and in an organized way.: He was methodical when checking each student’s homework.10. Leveled: Destroyed or made flat.: The tornado leveled several houses in the small town.11. Charred: Burned and blackened by fire.: We could smell the charred smell of burned leaves in the air.12. Insulation: Material that keeps heat, sound, or electricity inside or outside.: Good insulation keeps your house warm in winter.13. ATF: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — a U.S. government agency.: The ATF investigated the fire at the munitions factory.14. Stressed : To say something with extra force or importance.: The teacher stressed the importance of studying for the test.

✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use Code SUMMER10 for 10% off your conversation💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/join🌧 Wet Things VocabularyRain – Water that falls from the sky. It started to rain, so I opened my umbrella.Puddle – A small pool of water on the ground. The child jumped into the puddle with her boots.Pond – A small lake. Ducks were swimming in the pond.Lake – A large area of water surrounded by land. We went fishing at the lake.Ocean – The biggest body of salt water. Waves crashed loudly in the ocean.River – A long stream of water that flows to the sea. The river runs through the city.Stream – A small, narrow river. We crossed the stream by stepping on stones.Shower – Light or short rain. A quick shower wet the streets.Drizzle – Very light rain. It was only a drizzle, so I didn’t need my umbrella.Storm – Strong weather with heavy rain and wind. The storm knocked down some trees.Flood – Too much water covering the land. The flood filled the streets with water.Dew – Small drops of water on grass in the morning. The grass was wet with dew.Mist – Very light fog made of water. Mist covered the hills in the morning.Fog – Thick mist that makes it hard to see. The car drove slowly because of the fog.Ice – Frozen water. The pond was covered with ice in winter.Snow – Frozen water that falls as white flakes. The children built a snowman with the snow.Hail – Small balls of ice that fall from the sky. Hail hit the roof during the storm.Waterfall – Water falling down from a high place. We took a picture in front of the waterfall.Wave – Water moving up and down in the sea. The big wave splashed onto the beach.Spray – Water that is sent out in small drops. The garden hose made a spray of water.Splash – Water that flies when something hits it. He jumped into the pool with a big splash.Steam – Hot mist from boiling water. Steam rose from the pot of soup.Drop – A very small amount of water. A drop of rain fell on my hand.Tear – Water that comes from your eye when you cry. A tear rolled down her cheek.

✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/joinLink to original newscast: https://youtu.be/H-o-ysnnypc?si=960Pdy6QHeyr0aHt🏛️ Government Shutdown VocabularyBring In – to include or introduce someone or something The teacher decided to bring in a guest speaker to the class to talk about their nursing career.Bring Onboard – to welcome someone into a group or team The company brought her onboard to help with the new project.Standoff – when two sides refuse to agree There was a standoff between the two teams about the rules.Optimistic – hopeful; believing things will turn out well He stayed optimistic even though the exam was hard.Doubt – not being sure about something She had doubts about whether she could finish the race on time.Dug In – refusing to change your opinion Both sides of the government dug in and wouldn’t compromise.Moderate – not extreme; in the middle He has moderate political views — not too strong on either side.Leader Thune – a U.S. senator and Republican leader (John Thune) Leader Thune said both parties need to work together.Shutdown – when the government or a business stops working for a time The park was closed during the government shutdown.Get Over – to recover from something It took him weeks to get over his illness.Chuck Schumer – a U.S. senator and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer spoke about helping workers during the shutdown.Potentially – possibly; maybe It could potentially snow tomorrow, so we might not have school.Disrupted – stopped from working normally Classes were disrupted when the internet went down.Resolved – ended or solved Their marriage problems were resolved after they met with a counselor.Vulnerable – weak or easily hurt Elderly people can be vulnerable during a heat wave.Elderly – old people The elderly need extra care during the winter.Paycheck – the money someone earns for work He waited for his paycheck to buy groceries.Interruption – a break or stop in something There was an interruption in the movie when the power went out.Non-Essential – not necessary or not the most important During a snowstorm, non-essential travel is not allowed.Wasted – used in a way that gives no good result All the food went bad and was wasted.WIC Benefits – government help for women, infants, and children to buy food Low-income families use WIC benefits to buy milk and baby food.SNAP Benefits – food money from the government for families in need Many people rely on SNAP benefits to buy groceries.Run Out – to use all of something We ran out of milk, so we went to the store.Obamacare – a U.S. law that helps people get health insurance Through Obamacare, more Americans can see a doctor.

✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/joinLink to original newscast: https://youtu.be/ZwDVLqMx19M?si=ji2IllpDD-e3Y8wo 1. National Guard: A part of the U.S. military that helps during emergencies in the country.: The National Guard helped rebuild the school after it collapsed.2. Deems: To think or decide something in a certain way.: The teacher deems the test too difficult for the class.: He deems himself lucky to have such supportive friends.3. Riots: Violent protests where people fight or damage property.: The police tried to stop the riots in the city center.4. Unlawful: Not allowed by law; illegal.: It is unlawful to drive without a license.5. Minor : Not very big or important.: She made a minor mistake on her homework.6. Minor : A person who is younger than 18 years old.: Because he is a minor, his parents must sign the form.7. Procedural: Related to the way something is done, usually by rules or steps.: The officer followed all the procedural steps before making the arrest.8. A Workaround: A different way to fix a problem when the normal way doesn’t work.: The students found a workaround to print their papers after the printer broke.9. Authorized: Given official permission or approval.: Only authorized people can enter the building.10. Call Up: To officially ask people to serve, usually in the military.: The government may call up more soldiers to Chicago.11. Tense: Nervous, worried, or unable to relax.: Everyone felt tense when they heard the loud explosion.12. Tear Gas: A gas used by police to make people’s eyes burn and water.: Police used tear gas to move the bear out of the populated neighborhood.13. Ramming: Hitting something hard with force.: The driver was arrested for ramming his car into the gate.: The goat kept ramming the wooden fence with its horns.14. ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a government agency that handles immigration and border laws.: ICE officers checked the documents of people entering the country.15. Promoting: Trying to help or support something so it becomes more known or successful.: She is promoting a new program to help immigrants learn English.16. Complex : A group of buildings that belong together.: The apartment complex has a pool and a gym.17. Complex : Hard to understand; not simple.: The math homework was too complex for me to finish on my own.18. Undocumented: Without legal papers to stay or work in a country.: The man was undocumented and afraid of being deported.19. Governor: The elected leader of a U.S. state.: The governor spoke to the public about the emergency.20. Raid: A sudden attack or visit by police or soldiers.: The police planned a raid to catch the criminals.21. Panic: Sudden, strong fear that makes people act without thinking.: She panicked when she couldn’t find her phone.22. Emblematic: A symbol or example that represents something.: The broken window was emblematic of the town’s problems.23. Mayhem: Great confusion, chaos, or violence.: A broken traffic light created mayhem at the intersection.: During the sale, the store turned into total mayhem.

✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 🔹 Phrasal Verbs with BagBag Up – to put things into a bag. : We need to bag up the groceries before we leave.: He said to his wife, “Let’s bag up the trash before it starts to smell.”🔹 Idioms and Expressions with BagBag of Bones – a very thin person. : After being sick, he looked like a bag of bones.Bag of Tricks – a set of methods or ideas. : The doctor reached into her bag of tricks to make sure the surgery was a success.: The teacher reached into his bag of tricks to calm the student.Let the Cat Out of the Bag – reveal a secret. : She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.In the Bag – certain to be won or achieved. : With two minutes left, the game was in the bag.Emotional Baggage – negative feelings or experiences from the past that affect someone today.He couldn’t start a new relationship because he was still carrying a lot of emotional baggage from his divorce.Grab Bag – a mix of different things. : The teacher’s quiz was a grab bag of questions.: The store owner put old items in a grab bag and sold them at a discount. Goodie Bag – a small bag of treats or gifts. : The kids got goodie bags at the birthday party.8. Doggie Bag – a bag for leftover food from a restaurant to take home.She asked the waiter for a doggie bag to bring her leftover pasta home.He didn’t want to waste the steak, so he took it in a doggie bag.🥪 Sandwich Bag: A small plastic bag used to carry a sandwich or snacks. : He packed his daughter’s lunch before she left for school.🛌 Sleeping Bag: A soft, warm bag you sleep in when camping. : We slept in sleeping bags under the stars at the campsite.🥊 Punching Bag: A heavy bag used for boxing or exercise. : The boxer hit the punching bag to practice his punches.🎶 Bagpipes: A musical instrument with air bags and pipes, often played in Scotland. : The man played the bagpipes at the parade.🎒 Sling Bag: A small bag with one strap, worn across the body. : She carried her phone and wallet in a sling bag.