The history of America is buried in a surprising place—the unique phrases we use every day.
Politics is full of odd phrases which had practical origins and morphed into what they mean today. The same can be said about the language and culture of guns and booze during Prohibition.
Ever wondered why someone who can't get it together is called a "basket case"? Or where the term "Yankee" came from? The answers have one thing in common: war.
The American South has given us words like "y'all" as well as dozens of colorful phrases like "fly off the handle" and "barking up the wrong tree." What are the origins of these expressions?
Learn about the frontier origins of such distinctly American expressions as "pass the buck" and "bet your bottom dollar."
Many words and phrases in English can be traced to the millions of immigrants who've come to the U.S. over the past 200 years and created a language that's entirely American.
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. Where did they all come from?
