America's Secret Slang

2013 • H2
4.7
14 reviews
TV-PG
Rating
Eligible
Watch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn More

Season 1 episodes (6)

1 Guns, Booze, and Politics
4/14/13
Politics is full of odd phrases like "pork barrel projects," "slush funds," and "lame ducks" -- all of which had practical origins and morphed to mean what they do today. The same can be said about the language and culture of guns and booze during the Prohibition era, which gave us phrases like "falling off the wagon," "teetotaler," and "skid row." But what exactly do them mean? Find out those answers in this episode and discover what it really means to be a "bootlegger.
2 Them's Fighting Words
4/14/13
Have you ever wondered why someone who can't get it together is called a "basket case"? Or where the term "Yankee" came from? And why do we say someone "bought the farm" when they die? The answers to these questions all have one thing in common: war. From the American Revolution to WWII, wars have spurred thousands of words and phrases you use every day including "sideburns," "deadlines," and even "hookers!" Join us, as we reveal the history behind America's secret slang.
3 Y'all Speak Country
4/21/13
The American South has given us words like "y'all" and "rednecks" as well as dozens of colorful phrases like "fly off the handle," "having an axe to grind," and "barking up the wrong tree." But what are the origins of these expressions and why has one group of people contributed so much to the American language? The answers reveal the hidden history behind the American south and its secret slang.
4 Westword Ho!
4/28/13
Expressions from "riffraff" to "betting your bottom dollar", "passing the buck," "acid test" and even "heard it through the grapevine" all come from America's frontier days. But have you ever wondered why these phrases were first used and what they mean today? The answers reveal the hidden history behind America and its secret slang.
5 Coming to America
5/5/13
Ever wonder why American cowboys say "'git along little doggies" when they're talking about herding cattle? Or why a losing wrestler "cries uncle?" And why do we say "ouch" when we stub a toe? The answers to all these questions can be traced to the millions of immigrants who've flooded into the US over the past 200 years and created a language that's entirely America. Join us as we reveal the history behind America's secret slang.
6 Talking Turkey
5/12/13
Americans have always loved to eat and expressions relating to food--from New York's "big apple" to "wake up and smell the coffee" --pepper our everyday speech. But where did they all come from? For example, why is something that's as "easy as pie" considered "a piece of cake?" Or why do you "talk turkey" about quitting a bad habit "cold turkey?" And what does it really mean to "bring home the bacon"? The answers reveal the hidden history behind America's food and its secret slang.

About this show

Every day we use words and phrases that were coined right here in the United States. Their origins reveal a lot about the history of our country, but most of us have no idea where these phrases came from, or what they originally meant.

Ratings and reviews

4.7
14 reviews
Jessica Smith
May 23, 2016
I wish they had made more seasons. I really like learning. But you can obky watch the same episode over so many times before you memorize it word for word.
Did you find this helpful?
Alex
July 14, 2014
I love watching this show and hearing how popular phrases we say today came to be. It's a very interesting show but it's fun too. And I like that the show moves pretty fast and you get the back story to a lot of phrases in one episode. Definitely recommend!
Did you find this helpful?
amanda orrantia
May 16, 2016
I'm a faunt of useless knowledge. This show just helps take up more brain space, gotta love that!!!
Did you find this helpful?

Rate this show

Tell us what you think.