What Does It Take to Be a 'Power Couple'?

2025 · VOA Learning English

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

Transcript

1. And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA

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2. Learning English.

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3. In American English, we use many expressions to describe when two people have a lot of similarities or are very close. Here are some examples.

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4. If we say two people are joined at the hip, they are nearly always together.

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5. If we describe individuals as thick as thieves it means they are very close. People considered two peas in a pod have many things in common.

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6. And we use the term kindred spirits to describe people who often share the same opinions and interests.

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7. These expressions can represent people who grew closer for different reasons. Maybe they complemented each other well in certain ways.

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8. Or maybe their situations brought them together for the purpose of completing something important or meaningful.

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9. But today we are going to discuss a very special kind of relationship one that involves two people who are romantically involved and very successful.

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10. People in such relationships can be described as power couples

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11. There are many examples of famous power couples, including successful movie stars, musicians and others in the performing arts.

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12. But power couples can exist in many other industries and communities, as well. And, the two people do not have to work in the same industry.

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13. If they do, however, that can make them even more powerful.

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14. For example, a well-known architect who builds homes could be partnered with a famous designer who decorates them.

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15. Or, one person in a power couple may be a music producer, while the other is a famous singer.

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16. Even though power couples involve highly successful people, one person could describe their partner as their better half

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17. This is a way to compliment their “other half” in the relationship. For example, one might say during a meeting with a friend, “Hello!

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18. How are you? And more importantly, how is your better half?”

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19. Now, let’s hear two friends use some of these expressions.

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20. You guys have been joined at the hip for weeks. Looks like you’re thick as thieves.

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21. B: What are you talking about?? We’re not thick as thieves or kindred spirits, and we’re definitely not a power couple.

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22. We are just working hard on the same project! And that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories

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