America's Secret Slang
Overview
Zach Selwyn takes viewers on an engaging journey through American slang, exploring its fascinating roots and meanings. Hitting the streets, he interviews ordinary people to gather their insights on popular phrases, before unveiling the true origins and often surprising histories behind these expressions. Each 30-minute episode delves into a distinct period of American history, highlighting words that emerged during that time or hold particular regional importance. With a blend of humor and education, the show uncovers the rich tapestry of language that shapes American culture.
Episodes
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1
The Price
Judy and Peter stumble upon the game and are unexpectedly whisked away to Jumanji for the very first time. In an attempt to bend the rules, Peter find...
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1
Guns, Booze, and Politics
The world of politics is rife with peculiar expressions such as "pork barrel spending," "slush funds," and "lame ducks"—terms that began with speci...
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2
Bargaining For Time
Judy makes a deal with Slick, swapping her damaged wristwatch for a device that helps Alan break free from the game. Once they return to Brantford, th...
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2
Them's Fighting Words
Have you ever thought about the origins of phrases like "basket case"? Or pondered the history behind the term "Yankee"? And what about the expressio...
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3
Y'all Speak Country
The Southern United States has enriched the English language with terms like "y'all" and "rednecks," along with a myriad of vivid expressions such as...
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3
Masked Identity
Following a run-in with the school bully and his crew, Peter opts to remain in Jumanji, gradually evolving into a fierce Manji mask-warrior. Meanwhile...
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4
West Word, Ho!
Phrases like "riffraff," "betting your bottom dollar," "passing the buck," "acid test," and "heard it through the grapevine" all trace back to the da...
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4
Ransom or Redhead
After Aunt Nora gets pulled into the game, the kids, along with Alan, set out on an adventure to save her from the grasp of Van Pelt.
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5
Coming to America
Have you ever questioned the origins of phrases like "git along, little dogies" used by American cowboys while rounding up cattle? Or pondered why a ...
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5
Master Builder
Peter brings a computer into the game, hoping it will aid in rescuing Alan. However, it ends up in the clutches of a deranged inventor who harnesses i...
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6
Talking Turkey
Food has long been a beloved aspect of American culture, inspiring countless phrases that enrich our language—from New York's "big apple" to the fa...
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6
No Dice
After Alan takes the dice to protect the kids from the dangers of Jumanji, Peter finds an alternative method to enter the game. Once inside, they stum...
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7
Love on the Rocks
When Judy gets overlooked by a charming boy at school, who only shows interest when he needs help with his homework, Jumanji responds by bringing to l...
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8
The Law of Jumanji
Alan cleverly uses Van Pelt's own strategies against him, ultimately defeating the relentless hunter. However, the victory is short-lived as Jumanji c...
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9
Stormy Weather
Judy and Peter find themselves caught in a relentless time loop, where each cycle culminates in Peter’s tragic death. As they continuously experienc...
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10
El Pollo Jumanji
Peter decides to bring the game to school in hopes of impressing a girl he has a crush on. However, things take a wild turn when both she and the scho...
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11
Perfect Match
The queen of a tribe of Amazons in Jumanji sets her sights on Alan, but the situation becomes more complicated when Aunt Nora gets pulled back into th...
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12
The Gift
After Alan is bitten by a Jumanji centipede and poisoned, the kids race against time to locate an antidote while fending off the relentless attacks fr...
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13
Truth Or Consequently
After the kids and Alan manage to break free from Jumanji, Peter returns with an innocent-looking creature. However, each time he tells a lie, the ani...
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1
Straight from the Horse's Mouth
Explore the fascinating ways in which American English has been influenced by animals, culinary terms, sports, and themes of mortality. This episode ...
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1
The Red and the Black
Alan and the children find themselves caught in the middle of a fierce battle between the red ants and the blue ants.
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2
Riding Shotgun
Delving into the origins of various expressions and idioms that have historical significance.
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2
Eye of the Sea
An aged sailor embarks on a quest to find the monstrous sea creature that took a chunk out of his nose. Meanwhile, Peter undergoes a surprising transf...
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3
Brantford, the Game
The children and Alan stumble upon a board game named "Brantford" in Jumanji, transporting them into a bizarre and twisted version of their hometown.
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3
Lower the Boom
This episode explores how the evolution of American English has been shaped by maritime culture, the legacies of ancient civilizations, the rise of ma...
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4
Air Judy
In their quest to flee Jumanji via airplane, the group stumbles upon a floating city inhabited by bird-like creatures. However, their escape is jeopar...
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4
Off the Cuff
Exploring how American English has evolved through the influence of fashion, criminal activities, legal penalties, derogatory terms, and the digital ...
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5
The Palace of Clues
Facing financial troubles with Trader Slick, Alan makes the choice to team up with an explorer who asserts he has knowledge of a location brimming wit...
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5
Cut to the Chase
An exploration of how popular culture has shaped everyday language and expressions. The episode delves into the origins of various phrases, revealing ...
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6
The Master of the Game
Alan and the children hop aboard Ibsen's mechanical rhino to traverse a vast desert, believing it will lead them to an escape from Jumanji.
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6
Bite the Bullet
This episode explores phrases that have their roots in various fields such as the military, law enforcement, aviation, and baseball. It delves into e...
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7
Robo-Peter
Ibsen creates a robotic replica of Peter with the intention of ensnaring Alan.
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7
Go for Broke
This episode delves into how various influences have molded language throughout history, from the impact of Vikings and the Cold War to the rise of co...
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8
Mud Boy
Peter makes a playmate out of mud.
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8
Hail to the Chief
The interplay of American leadership, romance, and social etiquette has shaped the evolution of American English. As presidents navigate their duties ...
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9
The Magic Chest
Peter returns from Jumanji with the Sand King's enchanted box filled with gold coins, only to find out that anyone who handles the coins transforms in...
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10
The Trial
Alan is accused of stealing the Singing Orb.
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11
The Riddle of Alan
After Alan suffers from memory loss, the kids embark on a river adventure with him in hopes of uncovering the secrets of his past.
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12
Night of the Hunters
Van Pelt goes head-to-head with a rival hunter in a thrilling chase to capture Alan, using the kids as bait in their high-stakes game.
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13
The Plague
Judy discovers an enormous pearl, but as she celebrates her find, ailing Peter inadvertently spreads his illness to everyone in Jumanji.
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1
The Three Peters
After Peter loses his temper and destroys the game, he unexpectedly divides into three separate selves, with each one embodying distinct aspects of hi...
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2
Young Alan
Ibsen transports the children two decades into the past, right to the moment when Alan first stepped into the world of Jumanji.
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3
The Intruder
The kids discover an intruder hiding in the attic, and to their surprise, he is pulled into the game of Jumanji alongside them.
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4
Oh, Grow Up
Feeling discontent with his height, Peter decides to swap Slick for a magic potion that grants him the ability to grow taller.
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5
Return of Squint
Alan and the children take Ibsen's submarine for a joyride, leading to an unexpected twist when Peter transforms into a salamander.
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6
Armageddon
Something is definitely off in Jumanji; all the inhabitants are acting surprisingly friendly.
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7
Love Potion
After Judy's boyfriend decides to invite another girl to the school dance, she turns to Slick and purchases a love potion in hopes of winning him back...
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8
Sorceress of Jumanji
A grumpy neighbor stumbles upon the Jumanji game at Aunt Nora's garage sale and decides to take it home. Little does he know, this seemingly harmless ...
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9
The Ultimate Weapon
Slick puts the infamous Trans-Vector, a perilous weapon, up for auction, drawing the attention of Jumanji's most nefarious villains.
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10
Who Am I?
A mysterious ball of lightning triggers a mind-swapping phenomenon across Jumanji, leading characters to find themselves in unexpected bodies. As they...
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11
Nothing to Fear
Judy, Peter, and Alan find themselves facing their deepest anxieties as they begin to manifest.
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12
The Doll
Peter swipes the doll belonging to the Manji witch doctor and starts using it to manipulate the residents of Brantford into following his commands.
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13
An Old Story
After taking a dip in Jumanji's Pool of Ages, Judy and Peter find themselves aging at an alarming rate.
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14
Good Bye Jumanji
As the group finds themselves stuck in a cave, the kids and Alan discover the Crystal of Reflection, which reveals footage from their past escapades. ...
