英語習語和短語背後隱藏的歷史

Does your learner ever wonder why we 'bite the bullet,' 'throw in the towel,' or 'talk turkey'? This class uncovers the fascinating stories behind the phrases we use every day!

In this engaging course, learners will explore the hidden history of idioms and expressions, revealing how language reflects the people, events, and cultures of the past. From the Viking Age to the trenches of World War I, and from medieval markets to presidential politics, each phrase carries a story waiting to be discovered.

Learners won’t just hear about history—they’ll engage with it. They’ll hypothesize the origins of expressions like 'throw down the gauntlet' and 'Bluetooth,' dive into idioms shaped by war, exploration, and even sports, and end each session with a spirited Kahoot quiz to test their knowledge.

This class blends storytelling, history, and language into a dynamic journey through time, sparking curiosity and connecting learners to the world in new and unexpected ways. Whether they’re curious linguists or history buffs, they’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the phrases we speak and the history they hold.

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Additional Class Expectations:

Active Participation: In this class, active participation is key to meaningful engagement and learning. Learners are strongly encouraged to contribute to discussions, share their perspectives, and ask questions. To promote critical thinking and effective in-class interactions, the chat feature should be used sparingly. While quick questions or clarifications are welcome, longer answers or discussions are best reserved for face-to-face interactions during class time.

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***Tentative Schedule***



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Class Summaries:
Greeks, Romans, and Vikings - Oh My!
In America, we use a secret slang everyday that tells us about our past.  Ever wonder where the word "Bluetooth" comes from?  And what about its symbol?   Why do we say our "ears are burning" if someone's talking about us, and why is October the 10th month, even though its name means "8th"? The answers to all these questions can be traced to the Vikings, Romans, and Greeks of the ancient world.

Them's Fightin' Words! 
From the American Revolution to WWII, wars have spurred thousands of expressions we use every day.  How did the term "yankee" come about?  Why do we have "deadlines?"  Why are movies "blockbusters?"  How do any of these terms relate to America's military history?  The answers are in this fascinating class.  The intriguing origins of unusual military words and expressions will be learned here. 

Beware of the High Seas!
In America, we use a secret slang everyday that tells us about our past.  Ever wonder why we say we're "tying up loose ends" when we are taking care of business? Or why do we say "pipe down" when someone needs to be quiet?  And why do we "turn a blind eye" to something bad that is happening? The answers to all these questions can be traced to sailors and their experiences on the high seas.  The intriguing origins of unusual words and expressions show the powerful impact that sailing and the high seas had on American.

Presidents & Politics
Presidents and their politics have provided us with tons of odd phrases like "bully pulpit," "stonewalling," and "lame ducks" -- all of which had practical origins and morphed to mean what they do today.  For example, why are some politicians "lame ducks?"  The phrase originated from one of our oldest forms of transportation - ships.  Sailors would call a damaged ship that could barely sail a "lame duck" as it resembled an injured duck tilted over in the water. How did that term come to mean an outgoing politician?  You'll find out here!

Ridin' Shotgun
In this class we look at how forms of transportation from horses to trains to cars, and guns our ancestors protected themselves with while traveling, influenced the common words and phrases we say every day.  When we want to ride in the front seat, why do we yell "shotgun?", why do lucky people ride the "gravy train?"  Why are "highways" high, what do "turnpikes" turn, and why is a wild person "hell on wheels?"  Words and phrases worked their way into our language from the ways our ancestors traveled around.  Forms of transportation - horses, trains, and cars - all real engines of vocabulary driving tons of words and phrases into our language.  Thousands of years ago, people mostly traveled by foot or horseback.  But about 100 years ago, the internal combustion engine revved up its motors and drove into our lives and language. 

Let's Talk Turkey!
Americans have always loved to eat and expressions relating to food -- from "bring home the bacon" to "wake up and smell the coffee" -- pepper our everyday speech. But where did they all come from?  For example, who put the "dog" in "hot dog?"  Ever wonder why people "egg you on?" Or why do you "talk turkey" about quitting a bad habit "cold turkey?" And what does it really mean when we say "there's more than one way to skin a cat?" The answers reveal the hidden history behind America's food and its secret slang. 

Going Medieval!
In the United States, we use a secret slang everyday that tells us about our past.  Ever wonder why we use the word "beef" for the meat of a cow yet we call chicken meat "chicken"?  Why the inconsistencies?  Why do we say something is "the apple of our eye" when referring to something much loved or cherished.  And why do we say "It’s Raining Cats and Dogs" when we mean it's raining heavily?  The answers to all these questions can be traced to the Medieval period.  The intriguing origins of unusual words and expressions influenced by the Middle Ages will be learned here.

Straight From the Horse's Mouth
Historical origins of expressions derived from the animals - for centuries, almost everybody spent their days on farms and spent their days tending animals.  It's only natural that farm animals "nose" their way into words and phrases we still say everyday like "hold your horses," "for the birds" and "get your goat".

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!
Words that started in one of America's pastimes have ended up in our everyday use.  We've been playing baseball for so long, it's no wonder it has worked its way into our language.  For example, sports - including baseball - have fans.  But why are they called "fans'' in the first place?  "Fan" comes from the Latin word "fanum" which means a sanctuary or temple.  If you spent a lot of time at the "fanum", they had a word to describe you.  Someone who was extremely devout was called a "fanatic."  Overtime, "fanatic" was shortened to "fan".  Today, those who are devoted to loving the game are called fans.

All About The South 
A large majority of southern phrases and terms have international origins.  How did the terms "redneck" and "hillbilly" come about?  What is a "trailblazer?"  Why do some people "bark up the wrong tree?"   The intriguing origins of unusual southern words and expressions will be learned here.  

Going Out West!
The majority of these terms and phrases can be traced back to the fearless Americans who ventured westward after the Louisiana Purchase.  Before they reached their destinations, they had to traverse the mighty Mississippi River.  In doing so, they made new discoveries that there were no words for so they took words from their native tongues transforming the American language.  For example, the phrases "barge in" and "letting off steam" originate from early Americans literally commandeering the Mississippi River.  Today "barge in" and "letting off steam" have evolved into less literal meanings.