Expression: To Blow Off Steam

If you would like to access the second part to this audio, where you’ll learn all about The Story of Starbucks, click here.

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Hey, everyone. How’s it going?

This is episode number 134, and today, as usual with expression episodes, there will be two parts. In part one, so in this episode, we’ll be going over the expression to blow off steam. In part two, which will be posted shortly, I’ll tell you the story of Starbucks. Yep, I think you know them. I’m sure you’ve seen a store here and there, maybe on every corner, depending on the city you’re in. But how much do you actually know about this famous coffee company? Do you know why they’re called Starbucks? Do you know who the woman is on the logo? Well, there are plenty of other interesting facts that I’ll share in part two.

And I know some of you are thinking, oh, no, not Starbucks. But on the other hand, there are a lot of you whose mouths started watering just at the name of the company because you might be thinking of your favorite drink from there.

It doesn’t matter if you prefer a fancy Italian cappuccino or a venti latte from Starbucks, hearing the Starbucks story is definitely interesting, I promise you, and there’s a lot of good English vocabulary in part two. So be sure to stay tuned for it.

Let’s start with part one, which, as usual, begins with a joke. Are you ready?

What’s it called when you steal someone’s coffee?

Do you know?

A mugging.

Mug is a noun and a verb. M U G.

A mug, as a noun, is a cup with a handle in which you might put coffee, tea or another hot beverage. We also call a mug just simply "a coffee cup," but mug sounds cozy, it sounds nice; it gives me thoughts of winter.

Mug has a second meaning, though. To mug as a verb means to attack and rob someone in a public place.

Let me repeat: to attack and rob in a public place. So there is some physical contact.

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