The Story of Jack Frost

2025 · VOA Learning English

This speaker is a general-american model. Each line below can be recorded and scored against it.

Transcript

1. Now, from VOA Learning English, it's time for Words and Their Stories.

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2. If this is your first time with us, this program explores words and expressions commonly used in American English.

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3. We take a look at where they come from and how best to use them.

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4. So, as winter officially comes to half the world, today we celebrate an expression that means winter is coming.

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5. When temperatures drop and a cold snap comes, that means one thing: Jack Frost has arrived! Jack Frost represents the coming of dark, cold days.

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6. He is the personification of winter, a human form of winter weather.

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7. So, when we say, “Jack Frost is nipping at your nose,” we mean that you feel the cold, icy effects of winter on your face.

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8. When a frost or deep freeze comes, you had better bundle up You should wear enough clothing to stay warm.

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9. Now, Jack Frost does, indeed, bring the cold of winter. But he can also create beauty in nature.

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10. Some traditions claim that Jack Frost is responsible for leaving ice and snow on windows, trees, the ground…anywhere it will stick.

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11. While we know frost is a natural event, it is fun to think that an imaginary creature named Jack Frost (or another name in some other cultures) changed the world into a winter

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12. wonderland That is what poet Hannah Flagg Gould (1789-1865) must have been thinking when she wrote a poem called The Frost.

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13. Here are parts of that poem. THE FROST looked forth, one still, clear night, And he said, “Now I shall be out of sight;

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14. extremes, winter is a great subject for songs and poetry.

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15. It is freezing outside. This cold snap came out of nowhere!

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16. Is that all you’re wearing? You need to bundle up or Jack Frost will be nipping at more than your nose

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17. I’ll be fine. I’m wearing my new coat. That it is NOT a winter coat.

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18. I mean, it looks great, but it’s much too thin. You will catch a cold

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19. I know. You can wear my new down coat. It keeps you warm up to minus 30 degrees Celsius!

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20. I’m going on a date...not exploring the Arctic Circle! Thanks.

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21. But I am not wearing that big, thick black coat. Besides, the taxi will take me from door-to-door.

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22. But what if something goes wrong? What if the car skids on the ice and is involved in an accident?

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23. You’ll have to walk to the restaurant. You might freeze to death No, I won’t.

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24. I’ll just call an Uber to come and get me. And what if that vehicle runs out of fuel?

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25. Then you’ll have to walk to get more. No, the Uber driver will.

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26. I’ll just call another car. What if that new Uber driver is a pregnant woman and she goes into labor?

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27. You’ll have to help. You’ll have to wait outside in the cold until help arrives!

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28. And the roads are already covered with five centimeters of snow! It could take the ambulance an hour to get to you!

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29. If you’re wearing that thin coat…you’ll catch your death The EMT s will find you frozen solid like a block of ice!!

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30. Stop! Stop!! You win! Give me your coat!

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31. Good decision. Here’s my ride Don’t forget gloves…a hat…and a scarf!

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32. Have fun! And that’s the end of this Words and Their Stories.

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33. Until next time! I’m Anna Matteo.

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