Learn
Watch & LearnLearning Paths
Daily EnglishSocial EnglishProfessional EnglishVOA English
Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Learn phrases for being unable to leave, sheltering at home, and spotting a persuasive but false story.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptA winter storm gives the episode expressions for poor visibility, being unable to leave home, choosing to stay inside, and misleading persuasion. “Snow someone” and “a snow job” are figurative and unrelated to actual snowfall; “snowball” is excluded because another VOA lesson already teaches that figurative use.
Cultural note: Weather can be dangerous. “Hunker down” describes staying in a safe place, but it is not a substitute for local emergency guidance. “Snow someone” is informal and accusatory; use it only when you have a reason to describe deliberate deception.
Keep exploringA snowstorm can block the door—or a “snow job” can cloud the facts. Context makes the difference.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe blocked roads and poor visibility.
Meaning
A condition in which blowing snow makes it extremely difficult or impossible to see.
Tone & use
Usually hyphenated as a noun. It can also describe similarly poor visibility from dust or fog, depending on context.
Example
“The highway patrol closed the road during the white-out.”
Meaning
Be unable to leave a place because deep snow blocks the way.
Tone & use
Usually describes being stuck at home or in a building after heavy snow.
Example
“The family was snowed in until a plow cleared their street.”
Talk about sheltering and preparing at home.
Meaning
Stay in a protected place and prepare to wait through a difficult period.
Tone & use
Common during severe weather, but also used figuratively for a challenging stretch of work or uncertainty.
Example
“With the storm approaching, residents followed local advice and hunkered down at home.”
Recognize informal words for false or overly persuasive claims.
Recognition caution
Meaning
A deceptive or overly persuasive explanation meant to make someone believe something.
Tone & use
Informal and critical. It implies misleading talk, so avoid making the accusation without evidence.
Example
“The salesperson’s promises sounded like a snow job, so we checked the written warranty.”
An accusation of deception; distinguish a mistaken claim from intentional misleading.
Meaning
Mislead someone with false or flattering statements.
Tone & use
Informal. The person who is “snowed” is the target of the deception.
Example
“The advertisement tried to snow customers with claims that the product could do everything.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
Try it · Choose the best expression
1 of 3