But beans are used to describe something of very little value in the expression, not worth a hill of beans.

VOA: special.2010.01.31

This week in our series, Steve Ember and Shirley Griffith describe the first days of the American Civil War.

VOA: special.2009.08.20

For example, the word circus is used to describe any noisy place with a lot of activities going on.

VOA: special.2009.01.11

He had a system. He would describe characters and plots, then have ghostwriters expand those ideas into a book.

VOA: special.2009.08.24

Old-timers used it to describe a man who had just arrived from one of the big cities back east.

VOA: special.2010.05.23

But the word hacker is also used to describe a person who tries to steal information from computer systems.

VOA: special.2009.04.19

Mister Jungen has said that the sports industry makes free use of American Indian words and images to describe its teams.

VOA: special.2009.11.13

People who live through life threatening situations sometimes describe a calming presence or guiding voice hat helps them survive.

VOA: special.2010.02.24

These are words that visitors use to describe Dolly Sods, a large wild area in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia.

VOA: special.2009.07.20

The word comes from the word "Arab" and is a design term used to describe flowing lines and geometric patterns.

VOA: special.2009.03.11

The term today most often is used to describe a powerful machine designed to clear away trees and other big objects.

VOA: special.2009.02.15

People began hearing the phrase by the grapevine to describe false as well as true reports from the battlefield.

VOA: special.2009.02.22

Some of the guests were not sure what to think of Ellen and Doug's celebration -- or even how to describe it.

VOA: special.2011.05.23

This week in our series, Harry Monroe and Kay Gallant describe events during the spring of eighteen sixty-three.

VOA: special.2009.10.15