?Words in This Story
winnow –v. to sort grain by throwing it in the air or using air to separate the grain from unwanted plant material

thresh –v. to beat the grain-bearing part of a cereal (such as wheat) to separate it from the chaff (unwanted plant material)

charity –n. an organization that supports a cause with money and assistance

application –n. a written request to be part of a company or organization that includes background and personal information
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?(It's Time to 'Separate the Wheat from the Chaff')
On today’s show we talk about an expression that likely came from wheat growers a long time ago. Preparing harvested wheat involves an important step – separating the wheat from the chaff.
Chaff is the outer covering of grain, the husk and other matter around the grain. Grain must be separated from chaff before it can be used for food. In farming, separating the wheat from the chaff is called winnowing or threshing.
In English, the expression “separating the wheat from the chaff” means to decide which people or things in a group are good or important and which ones are not. Who or which things can you live without?
This idiom describes a kind of sorting process.
For example, if you are planning to go on a long hiking trip, you have to decide which things are necessary to carry with you and which things are not. Food and water need to make the cut — they need to be included. A long, heavy novel to read might not be such a good idea. If you do not separate the wheat from the chaff, your backpack will be too heavy.
This idiom can also mean that you decide which things are valuable and which things have little worth.
For example, let’s say you are organizing a large neighborhood yard sale to raise money for a local charity. Many neighbors donate things they no longer need. Some are valuable and should get a high price. But other things are not worth much and should be low in cost. In this case, taking your time to separate the wheat from the chaff is time well spent. You do not want to see something valuable sold for too little money. It is for charity, after all.
This idiom can also mean to separate people or things that are of high quality from those that are of low quality.
Let’s say you are hiring someone for a top position in your company. When you send the announcement out, you receive hundreds of applications. This is the first round of the process when you must separate the wheat from the chaff. You must determine the most qualified applicants for the second round of the process that would include phone discussions and interviews.
For a last example, let’s talk about learning English. Online, you can find many resources that teach English. But they are not all good. It is up to you to separate the wheat from the chaff.
?#Listening_Text
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?Listening number (4)
?Words and Their Stories (It's Time to 'Separate the Wheat from the Chaff'.)
#Listening
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? Words in This Story
mince words to soften or weaken your words especially for the sake of being polite

brutally – adv. in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering

blunt – adj. being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner

frank – adj. free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions

opponent – n. one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict

manuscript – n. a document submitted for publication

We want to hear from you. Do you have similar expressions in your language? Our comment policy is here.
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?(To Pull or Not to Pull Punches)
Sometimes in life we have to break bad or difficult news to friends, family members, work partners and sometimes even strangers.
Some people may do this indirectly. They may want to soften the immediate effect the news will have on the person. We might tell only part of the truth. When we do this, we are “pulling our punches”
But there are other times when we do the opposite.
We speak directly, presenting the hard facts and little else. We might do this in emergencies, when facing danger, or other times when the complete truth is required. In these cases, we are “not pulling any punches.”
When someone does not pull any punches, they say things that might be hurtful or frightening. They know the information may be troubling. But, the information is usually thought to be more important than the unease it may cause.
If you don’t pull punches, you speak your mind. You tell it like it is. You don’t mince words or sugar-coat the truth. Mincing words means to soften or weaken your words especially for the sake of being polite. Some people mince words when they are afraid to tell someone the truth. And if you sugarcoat something, you make it sound more pleasant or acceptable than it really is.
People who don’t pull punches can also be called straight-talking, blunt, or frank. In fact, sometimes we use “blunt” and “frank” when we break bad or difficult news to someone. We might say, “Look, I need to be frank with you,” or “I hate to be blunt but …” and then you’re blunt. You don’t pull your punches.
When talking with this kind of person, we always know where we stand. We never have to guess. This can be a good thing.
However, when we are on the receiving end of a person who doesn’t pull any punches, we also need a thick skin. Much of what we may hear might hurt a little … or a lot. Just as a thick skin protects some animals from attacks, it also protects people from hard, cold truths that are hard to hear. But with a "thick skin," we can better absorb the "punch" of tough news.
When you don’t pull any punches, you also act without restraint or limitations. You don’t hold back. You are all in.
The phrase “to not pull any punches” comes from boxing. If you pull a punch in the boxing ring, it means you restrain your power. You purposely hit your opponent with less force than is possible.
Word experts say that in the 1930s people began to use this phrase more widely. These days you can pull your punches or not pull any punches is just about any situation.
Now let’s hear two friends use this phrase and related terms in a short conversation.
A: Okay, here is my movie script.
B: Oh wow! You finished it! Congrats!
A: Now I really need some outside opinions. I’m way too close to the material.
B: That is a great idea. But I don’t think I’m the person to ask.
A: Why? You have really good taste in films, and I know you’ll tell me like it is.
B: That’s the problem. I am brutally honest. It’s impossible for me to pull any punches.
A: That’s exactly what I need – honesty! Tell me what you really think. Don’t hold anything back.
B: You say that now. But when you hear my criticisms, you may feel differently.
A: No way. I have a really thick skin. It’s impossible for a little criticism to hurt my feelings.
B: Okay, I’ll read it and give you my notes. But the last person who asked me to read her manuscript still isn’t talking to me.
A: Oh. Wow. You really don’t pull any punches, do you?
B: You’ve been warned.
? #Listening_Text
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?Listening number (3)
?Words and Their Stories (To Pull or Not to Pull Punches.)
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#vocabulary
✍تفاوت brake و break را بدانيم:

✅break
به معناى شكستن ميباشد

?Be careful, you may break the window.
مواظب باش، ممکن پنجره‌ رو بشکنی.

✅brake
به معناى ترمز و ترمز گرفتن ميباشد.

?‘If you are a beginner cyclist, apply both brakes with even pressure.’
اگر يك دوچرخه سوار مبتدى هستيد، هر دو ترمز را با فشار بگيريد.

❗️اين دو كلمه تلفظ يكسانى دارند