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TVPGHDAmerica's Secret Slang1hStory Television

How American English was influenced by the seas, the ancient world, big business and the news industry.

Original Air Date: Jun 14, 2014

How American English was influenced by the seas, the ancient world, big business and the news industry.

Original Air Date: Jun 14, 2014

How to watch

More episodes

Story Television • Today, 6:00pm • 30m

America's Secret Slang

S1, EP5 "Coming to America"

Immigrant's unique language.

Story Television • Today, 6:30pm • 30m

America's Secret Slang

S1, EP6 "Talking Turkey"

An enduring love for food among Americans flavors everyday speech with expressions like big apple and smell the coffee; understanding the origins of these phrases.

Story Television • Today, 7:00pm • 30m

America's Secret Slang

S1, EP4 "West Word, Ho!"

The history behind the expressions from America's frontier days.

Story Television • Today, 7:30pm • 30m

America's Secret Slang

S1, EP2 "Them's Fighting Words"

Etymology from the American Revolution to WWII; words and phrases used every day.

Story Television • Today, 5:00pm • 1h

America's Secret Slang

S2, EP7 "Go for Broke"

Exploring the ways the language has been shaped by Vikings, the Cold War, computers, music and gambling; the meanings behind the colors of the rainbow.

Story Television • Today, 3:00pm • 1h

America's Secret Slang

S2, EP5 "Cut to the Chase"

How entertainment influenced common words and phrases.

Story Television • Today, 4:00pm • 1h

America's Secret Slang

S2, EP4 "Off the Cuff"

Ways American English has been shaped by clothes, crimes, punishments, insults and the Internet.

Story Television • Today, 1:00pm • 1h

America's Secret Slang

S2, EP3 "Lower the Boom"

How American English was influenced by the seas, the ancient world, big business and the news industry.

If you think about it, English can be confusing, especially to those first learning the language -- as George Carlin pointed out, we park in driveways and drive on parkways. While we take common phrases and idioms for granted, there's usually a back story. In "America's Secret Slang," host Zach Selwyn explores how terms like "slush fund" and "fly off the handle" entered the lexicon. Revelations include how the circus gave America the word "jumbo," how actors led to the word "upstage," and a connection between George Washington and the word "groggy."
Original Air Date: Apr 14, 2013
Genres: DocuseriesTV Series
Rating: TVPG
Playback: HD
1 seasons available on demand
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