an word="Now">Nowan>, an word="the">thean> an word="VOA">VOAan> an word="Special">Specialan> an word="English">Englishan> an word="program">programan> an word="WORDS">WORDSan> an word="AND">ANDan> an word="THEIR">THEIRan> an word="STORIES">STORIESan>.

(an word="MUSIC">MUSICan>)

an word="Today">Todayan> an word="we">wean> an word="explain">explainan> an word="some">somean> an word="expressions">expressionsan> an word="about">aboutan> an word="birds">birdsan>. an word="For">Foran> an word="example">examplean>, an word="if">ifan> an word="something">somethingan> an word="is">isan>an word="for">foran> an word="the">thean> an word="birds">birdsan>, an word="it">itan> an word="is">isan> an word="worthless">worthlessan> an word="or">oran> an word="not">notan> an word="very">veryan> an word="interesting">interestingan>. an word="Someone">Someonean> an word="who">whoan>an word="eats">eatsan> an word="like">likean> an word="a">aan> an word="bird">birdan>an word="eats">eatsan> an word="very">veryan> an word="little">littlean>. an word="And">Andan> an word="a">aan>an word="birds">birdsan>-an word="eye">eyean> an word="view">viewan>an word="is">isan> an word="a">aan> an word="general">generalan> an word="look">lookan> an word="at">atan> an word="an">anan> an word="area">areaan> an word="from">froman> an word="above">abovean>.

an word="Did">Didan> an word="you">youan> an word="know">knowan> an word="that">thatan> an word="if">ifan> an word="you">youan> an word="tell">tellan> an word="a">aan> an word="young">youngan> an word="person">personan> an word="about">aboutan> an word="the">thean>an word="birds">birdsan> an word="and">andan> an word="the">thean> an word="bees">beesan>an word="you">youan> an word="are">arean> an word="explaining">explainingan> an word="about">aboutan> an word="sex">sexan> an word="and">andan> an word="birth">birthan>? an word="Have">Havean> an word="you">youan> an word="ever">everan> an word="observed">observedan> an word="that">thatan>an word="birds">birdsan> an word="of">ofan> an word="a">aan> an word="feather">featheran> an word="flock">flockan> an word="together">togetheran>? an word="In">Inan> an word="other">otheran> an word="words">wordsan>, an word="people">peoplean> an word="who">whoan> an word="are">arean> an word="similar">similaran> an word="become">becomean> an word="friends">friendsan> an word="or">oran> an word="do">doan> an word="things">thingsan> an word="together">togetheran>. an word="Here">Herean> an word="is">isan> an word="some">somean> an word="good">goodan> an word="advice">advicean>:abird in the hand is worth two in the bush. This means you should not risk losing something you have by trying to get more of something you do not have.

Sometimes I can do two things by performing only one action. This is calledkilling two birds with one stone. But I would never really kill any birds. I love all kinds of animals. This is a realfeather in my cap. It is something to be proud of.

Most of the people I work with areearly birds. They believe thatthe early bird catches the worm. They think that a person who gets up early in the morning for work has the best chance of success. Everyone in my office works hard, but some people have had theirwings clipped. Their jobs have been limited. This is because the office is organized bypecking order. People with more years and experience are given more responsibility.

Some bird expressions are about crows, chickens and ducks. For example, when I am driving, I always travelas the crow flies. I go the most direct way. Anyone whoeats crowhas to admit a mistake or defeat.

Now let’s talk about my sister. She is not very young. She is nospring chicken. She will work any job forchicken feed --a small amount of money. She is easily frightened. For example, she is toochicken-livered towalk down a dark street alone at night. Often she willchicken out –she will not go out alone at night.

My sister was anugly duckling. She looked strange when she was a child, but she grew up to be a beautiful woman. Sometimes she thinks too much about having something in the future before she really has it. Shecounts her chickens before they are hatched.Sometimes herchickens come home to roost. That means her actions or words cause trouble for her. However, my sister does not worry about what people say about her. Criticism falls off herlike water off a duck’s back.

Politicians are sometimes consideredlame ducksafter losing an election. They have little time left in office and not much power. Congress holds alame duck sessionafter an election. Important laws are not passed during this period.

(an word="MUSIC">MUSICan>)

This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Jill Moss. I’m Faith Lapidus.