Crosby’s 9

English from all angles! We pick up where we left off with rear-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive cars - and the story of Drew’s parents’ 1982 Honda Civic and BMW 530. Drew gets sidetracked (again!), so he doesn’t discuss the verb “to be” in as much depth as planned. But you’ll learn the useful expression “to get sidetracked,” meaning to become distracted from what you were originally doing or talking about. And yes, we eventually return to the verb “to be” - sort of. In this episode, you’ll learn how sandbags - and “sandbagging” - can “solve” problems, whether you’re driving on snow or creating a sales budget. You’ll also learn the expression “to gain traction,” as in, “His idea is gaining traction.”

English from all angles! Mastering the verb “to be” is a cinch, isn’t it? Well, not necessarily. Don’t underestimate the power of using the verb “to be” effortlessly and accurately - and, conversely, the negative impression created when it’s used incorrectly. BTW, what does “it’s a cinch” mean? Tune in and find out! In this episode, Drew was going to discuss the verb “to be” and the importance of knowing it backwards and forwards, but then something happened…Learn the difference between “supposed to” and “supposedly,” and the expression “catch my drift.”

English from all angles! If it’s genuine, it’s the real thing. Like Levi’s. If it’s authentic, it’s original. Like Chicago deep-dish pizza. You agree, don’t you? How quickly can you recognize the English letters? In this episode apply the trick and test yourself! Also - more pronunciation tips. Is it genuine? Is it authentic? Is it vintage? Or is it false, counterfeit or artificial? Tune in and decide for yourself. Also in this episode: Question Tags! P.S. Never put ketchup on a Chicago-style hot dog.

English from all angles! Learning the letters in English is no longer difficult – find out why in this episode. Also, FIX your problem with possessive questions FOREVER. Whose problem is that? It’s not yours anymore! Why has it been so long since Drew’s published a Crosby’s 9 episode? He’s been meaning to (a great expression you’ll learn here) for a long time, but he’s been as busy as a bee. Tune in and he’ll tell you more. Also, bees buzz, cats meow, cows moo and snakes…? Check it out.

English from all angles! You can invest money and you can invest in yourself. But in both cases, you need to know when to take profit. What does that really mean in everyday English? Tune in to discover new words and expressions, boost your fluency, and sharpen your grammar skills with a practical look at question tags. How well do you really know them? Test yourself! Pause the rat race. In this episode, Drew explores why it’s important to celebrate small victories and recognize the progress you’ve made in English. Are you keeping track of your improvement? Are you on the right track? Keep moving forward, but don’t forget to “take profit” along the way. And by the way…“get out of your comfort zone” is a little overused, isn’t it?

English from all angles! Short on time? In just 9 minutes, improve your English speaking and listening skills as you learn practical vocabulary, common expressions, and real-life English you can use right away. In this episode, learn why checks bounce, how to balance a checkbook, the balance beam with Nadia Comaneci, and what “that’s the way the ball bounces” and “no spring chicken” really mean.

English from all angles! Are you a Pacers fan? Are you going to stand under the mistletoe this holiday season? What LP did the Prince song “Kiss” appear on? Why so many questions? Because, there’s so much to learn! Don’t miss it. Can’t find parking downtown? Is the city too noisy for you? Are things too expensive in the city center? Is it too crowded? Well, that’s life in the big city! In this episode, you’ll learn how to use this expression - along with others, like “hustle and bustle” - while you perfect your listening, speaking and pronunciation skills AND learn new vocabulary, phrasal verbs and expressions.

What frustrates many people? Poor WiFi connection? Telemarketing? Forgetting passwords? Can frustration fuel motivation? What’s Top Fuel Racing? So many questions…Tune in for answers as you practice -and learn- tons of English! English from all angles! They’re selling headphones with cables again. Everything old is new again! Listen to this episode and you’ll learn this useful expression along with a lot more. Improve your listening comprehension, build your vocabulary, perfect your pronunciation…> It’s all here, in 9 minutes.

English from all angles! Would you ever get married secretly without telling your friends and family beforehand? In other words, would you ever elope? Over the years, many celebrities - including Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart - have tried to escape the media spotlight by eloping. Also in this episode, test your knowledge of some new vocabulary and expressions. Improve your English tremendously in only 9 minutes!

English from all angles! Quick question: How long does it take for fish (and guests) to stink? Answer: Three days. Do you agree? Tune in for more. Also, local vs. locale. In this episode, Drew discusses the Seattle local Kurt Cobain and the iconic Seattle locale, the Pike Place Market, where he hawked and hucked (and filleted) fish.

English from all angles! Do you excessively think about things? Do you get stuck in a loop? Do you replay the past over and over? In other words, do you overthink? Tune in and learn while your English gets better. As always, Drew takes you on a 9-minute journey that will improve your English. Along with overthinking, Drew discusses Chicago’s Loop (and the origin of the word), instant replay (is it a good idea in sports?) Instant Karma (John Lennon’s song)…and more!

English from all angles! Repeat: It sounds silly, but if you imitate me, you’ll improve your English. So true. Give Drew’s advice a shot. This episode looks at things that are undeniably true. Any ideas? Tune in! Is your English improving this summer? If not, you need to buckle down. Buckle down? Yes, it’s one of the useful phrasal verbs you’ll learn here. By the way, do you have the face you deserve? Find out!

English from all angles! What types of foods put you in a good mood? Tune in and find out while you put your English to the test and – as usual – learn tons! Along with discussing tasty, nutritious, well-made and comfort foods, Drew presents the musician known as the founding father of the New Orleans sound. And don’t miss the wit of George Bernard Shaw, as well as some Awesome Advice: Remember, all news is biased. What do think?

English from all angles! What?! Do you still forget to pronounce the “s” in the third person singular? Well, as of today you’ll no longer make that mistake. When you follow along with Drew, your English improves right away. Try it, you’ll see! What do you own? Why do you own it? Is it worth owning? Drew takes a look at this concept as he teaches you new words and expressions. Also, don’t miss this episode’s Remarkable Recording, you’re going to love it! All in just 9 minutes.

English from all angles! Please ignore this summary. Wait, never mind! Tune in and listen to Drew discuss the LP Nevermind by Nirvana, which led to the rock and rock shake-up of ’91 resulting in Grunge. Also, check out “never mind” the expression as you practice your English and learn even more. Paying compliments. When was the last time you paid somebody a compliment? How did it make your feel? When did you last tell a joke that bombed? Discover more in this episode! And, don’t miss the Cool Quote and Awesome Advice sections.

English from all angles! In this episode you’ll discover tons of new vocabulary and expressions, music by Willie Nelson and how to cook chili. It won’t be a letdown (another new word for you!). Is truth stranger than fiction? Is it time to hit the road? Was the LP released to very little fanfare? Did the preacher hit the road? Tune in and find out!

English from all angles! Remember, Crosby’s 9 is your one-stop English language shop for learning phrasal verbs, expressions and vocabulary as you improve your grammar, speaking and listening comprehension skills. All in 9 minutes! In this episode, Drew bids farewell to 2024 and rings in 2025. You’ll learn these expressions along with many more. And how well do know question tags and the conditionals in English? Test yourself in this episode. Happy New Year everyone!!

English from all angles! Are you struggling with your self-confidence? Do you lack the skills needed to achieve your goals? Well, simply act as if you had them until you actually obtain them. In other words, fake it until you make it. In this episode, Drew looks at whether or not inauthenticity is a good thing. Faking it to make it may boost your self-esteem, but when it comes to knockoff products or counterfeit money, inauthenticity is damaging. Pretending to be real is typically disingenuous behavior.

English from all angles! In order for your plan to become a reality, certain events need to happen. In other words, things need to fall into place. In this episode, you’ll continue to build your English vocabulary, hone your listening comprehension and fine-tune your pronunciation and speaking skills. Before branching out into telephony, Nokia made paper. Before branching out into consumer electronics, LG made face cream. Before branching out into the energy industry, Shell sold…yep, decorative shells. There’s your new phrasal verb: branch out. Tune in for a whole lot more!

English from all angles! Quick! > What does “faze” mean? Is there anything that fazes you? Remember, “faze” and “phase” are pronounced the same way. Are you going through a phase? Drew boosts your confidence when it comes to speaking English and helps you quickly improve your listening comprehension. Give it a shot! In this episode, you’ll learn the word “rowdy” and the expression “off your game”. Crowds at sporting events can sometimes be disorderly and disruptive, in other words, rowdy. Rowdy crowds often put athletes off their game. Also, check out the phrasal verbs “phase in” and “phase out”. The euro was phased in as the peseta was phased out. Tons of useful English for you - as usual - so don’t miss out.