Proper English

This week we're having an unscripted chat about what we would do if we won the lottery! This week's idiom is 'Crawling out of the woodwork.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

This week, we're tackling the thorny issue of prepositions associated with location - and the Idiom of the Week is 'At the drop of a hat.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license We also used the following sounds from Freesound: microwave ding.WAV by samplecat This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. FX swanee whistle up.wav by v0idation This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. greenfinch f.wav by ERH This work is licensed under the Attribution License.

In this episode we're considering some more of those little confusions of pronunciation and grammar that come up every now and then. Sylvia is giving her friend Mabel some much-needed encouragement in this week's Idiom of the Week, which is 'Butterflies in the stomach.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license We also used the following sounds from Freesound: audience.wav by pyoorgoodshed This work is licensed under the Attribution License. knocks on interior wood bathroom door quick desperate.wav by kyles This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. Opening Closing bathroom door.wav by Omar Alvarado This work is licensed under the Attribution License.

This week, we're examining the very British habit of apologising - and the little old ladies find themselves in 'a sorry state of affairs', this week's idiom… Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license We also used the following sounds from Freesound: cafe - takk, northern quarter, manchester by AntonyBK and Thunder Clap OWB KY 441x16.wav by Dave Welsh These works are licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

This week, we're all about abbreviations - and our intrepid detectives, Davidson and Roberts are illustrating the idiom 'On the QT' while on a stakeout. Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license ...and this is the Davidson and Roberts theme: Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We also used the following sound from Freesound: cafe - takk, northern quarter, manchester by AntonyBK This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

This week, Mabel and Sylvia are helping us come up with some more phrasal verbs to do with health matters. The Idiom of the Week 'A Bitter Pill to Swallow.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license We also used the following sound from Freesound: cafe - takk, northern quarter, manchester by AntonyBK This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

This week, we're having an unscripted chat about pet hates - things you really don't like - and Sylvia and Mabel, the two little old ladies, are illustrating the idiom 'To blow the whistle on someone.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license The following music is also used: Stay The Course by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5048-stay-the-course License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license And these sound effects from Freesound are used, too: Lose_Funny_Retro_Video Game by cabled_mess This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. JailDoorClose.wav by TurtleLG This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

We did it! We got to episode 100! So in this week's episode, we're looking back on the last two years of Proper English, talking about the use of the word 'hundred' - and in this week's Idiom of the Week, one of our intrepid detectives appears to be unaware of a Red Letter Day. Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish ...and this is the Davidson and Roberts theme: Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We've also used the following sounds from Freesound: Motorcycle start by roman_cgr and TaDa!.wav by jimhancock Both these sounds are licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. Here's to the next 100!

This week, we're talking about Ali's favourite animals - elephants (I bet you thought I was going to say cats)! The Idiom of the Week is 'A White Elephant.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish Various elephant sounds are courtesy of Zapsplat.com And these elephant sounds are from https://freesound.org Voice elephant.mp3 by vataaa and Elephant Trumpets Growls.flac by D.jones These Freesounds are licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

This week we're talking about all the different words, phrases and idioms we have in English describe things or people that we find annoying. We use quite a few in this episode! And those two little old ladies, Mabel and Sylvia are back illustrating the Idiom of the Week - in the aftermath of the Parish Council elections, which one of them was 'beside themselves with rage', do you think? Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We also used the following sound from Freesound: cafe - takk, northern quarter, manchester by AntonyBK This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Questions, questions, questions. We have been asked so many - and we're taking the opportunity to answer some of them this week. And those lovely old ladies are back, illustrating this week's idiom: 'All over bar the shouting.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We're also grateful to Freesound for the following sounds: wah wah sad trombone.wav by kirbydx This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. audience.wav by pyoorgoodshed This work is licensed under the Attribution License.

This week, we're devoting a whole episode to answering a bunch of grammar-related questions that start 'What's the difference between…?' Meanwhile, our hapless detectives, Davidson and Roberts, are trying to solve of the mystery of who spilt the beans, which, coincidentally, is the Idiom of the Week! Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ...and this is the Davidson and Roberts theme: Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We're also grateful to Freesound for the following sound: wah wah sad trombone.wav by kirbydx This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

This week we're looking at words and phrases that enhance the meaning of verbs and other major word groups. Meanwhile, Roxy and Sergeant Roberts are defining the idiom 'Sticking your head above the parapet', in the aftermath of a disastrous team-building exercise. Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ...and this is the Davidson and Roberts theme: Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week, we're looking at vocabulary associated with the theatre - and this week's idiom is 'Let's get this show on the road!' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We're also grateful to Freesound for the following sounds: Applause 2.WAV by Sandermotions This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. croc-12.wav by kalinkamalinka This work is licensed under the Attribution License. running up stairs.aif by MAJ061785 wah wah sad trombone.wav by kirbydx This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. Approx 800 Laugh 1.wav by lonemonk This work is licensed under the Attribution License.

This month sees World Book Day being celebrated all round the world, so we thought we'd have an unscripted chat about books this week. The Idiom of the Week is 'Comparing apples with oranges.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This podcast also uses the following music: Village Consort by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4585-village-consort License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ And finally, we've used the following sound from Freesound: Owls.wav by Benboncan This work is licensed under the Attribution License.

This week's episode is another in our occasional series concerned with phrasal verbs - this time we're looking at vocabulary associated with shopping! The two Yorkshire ladies are talking about clumsy grandchildren to illustrate the idiom 'A bull in a china shop.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We also used the following sound from Freesound: cafe - takk, northern quarter, manchester by AntonyBK This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Despite the title, this is not a Valentine's Day special - it's all about three little words in the English language that can sometimes be a bit of a handful - this week's idiom is 'Sick as a parrot.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We've also used some sounds from Freesound: Owls.wav by Benboncan This work is licensed under the Attribution License. Golf5.flac by acclivity This work is licensed under the Attribution Noncommercial License. ...and this sound comes from Soundbible: Sports Crowd by GoGo Licensed under the Attribution licence 3.0

This week, we're talking about rude words - we're talking about them, but we're not saying them! Davidson and Roberts are back this week, talking about problems at work and the idiom 'To let off steam.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ...and this is the Davidson and Roberts theme: Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We're also using an excerpt of this sound from Freesound: Last Post.wav by Benboncan This work is licensed under the Attribution License.

This week, we're looking into the rules governing adjective order. You didn't know about them? Well, you will after this episode. The Idiom of the Week is 'Every cloud has a silver lining.' …and listen to the end for Misha's poem! Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We've also used some sounds from Freesound: La cucaracha car Horn.wav by csnmedia porsche_911.wav by mharo These sounds are licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. Owls.wav by Benboncan This work is licensed under the Attribution License.

This week, we're talking about kicking up a fuss, being critical - yes, we're talking about complaining. Meanwhile, Roxy and Sgt Roberts are illustrating this week's Idiom: 'To nip it in the bud.' Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt. You can find us on italki at https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley. This podcast uses the following music as the opening and closing themes, and also for incidental music: Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3458-bright-wish License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ We also used the following sounds from Freesound: Sitcom Laughter 9x, Small Audience by Kinoton rain_strong_with_thunders.aif by loopbasedmusic Both are licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.