Akin to

Akin to

The phrase I’m going to tell you about today is “akin to.” Here’s how you heard it just a few minutes ago: Some people said that removing term limits is akin to making Xi a dictator. Akin to means, very similar to, or just like.

You’ll want to use “akin to” when you’re trying to say two ideas are very similar. You can use it for physical things; you could say two kinds of dogs are akin, but it’s more common to use “akin to” as a way to illustrate ideas via a comparison with a similar idea. Let me give you a few examples. Many of you know that Apple launched a music streaming service that comes loaded on every iPhone. If someone asks you, what is Apple Music? You can respond that it’s a streaming service akin to Spotify—meaning, similar to Spotify. Sure you could start from the beginning and explain everything about Apple Music, but it’s easier to just say it’s akin to Spotify, since everyone knows what Spotify is.

Here are a few more examples to help you practice. Some people say that wasting time at work is akin to stealing, since your employer is paying you to work. People are worried that posting too much on social media is akin to taking drugs because it stimulates the same parts of your brain. For some people, spending time with family is akin to a vacation because it’s what they want to do; for other people, it’s akin to a trip to the dentist—the exact opposite!

I’ve found that studying a second language is akin to a good workout for your brain. That’s because it’s hard work, worthwhile, and leaves you tired after a few hours.

I hope you enjoyed today’s episode. Don’t forget to click “follow” if you’re listening on Spotify or “Subscribe” if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or in another podcasting app. If you have a few extra minutes, try to leave a written review of Plain English in Apple Podcasts . So, you’ll help other listeners like you discover the program for the first time. Thanks again for listening and we’ll be back with another episode on Thursday.