Vocabulary Course: What's Your Story?

The word story seems like a simple vocabulary word until you ask four native English speakers in a room what story means. To your shock, you realize that you heard four different answers. The English language is rich in vocabulary, and one word can have many different but similar meanings.

Let's look at four main definitions of story in English:

Story
1. a report/article found in a newspaper/magazine
2. chronological events that make up a book, movie, or an individual's life
3. an alibi
4. a fabricated description of events

Examples:

1. I just read an excellent story in Time magazine entitled, "Amid Tweeted Frustration, Japan May Take Control of TEPCO", which is about how the Japanese government might have to take control over the Fukushima nuclear power plant from the company TEPCO.

2. Have you seen the film Black Swan? It's such a dark story!

3. Last week President Obama took to the airwaves and addressed the American people on the No-Fly-Zone over Libya. The president insisted that he is not going to put boots on the ground. Many people are not convinced that he is telling the truth, but so far he is sticking to his story.

4. If President Obama suddenly puts ground troops in Libya, then we can say that he was telling us all a story when he explained on television that the conflict in Libya would only be a limited air campaign and would not expand in scope.

Essential Vocabulary

alibi (n) ~ an excuse that may or may not be the truth

to fabricate (v) ~ to make up

took to the airwaves ~ to go on television, the radio, or the internet to deliver a message

No-Fly-Zone (n) ~ a place where planes are not allowed to fly, for purposes like: 1) special events, such as a Presidential Inauguration, Royal Wedding, Olympic Games etc., or 2) wars or to stop clashes from becoming a full blown war.

to put boots on the ground  (v) ~ a military term which means to put ground troops in a battle

to stick to (v) ~ to not waver in the course of action or in what has been said