logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2022
38m 23s

131 - 13 Common Superstitions in the U.S...

Shana Thompson
About this episode

We live in a day and age that is driven by science and technology, yet people are still superstitious. According to a study I read by YouGov, 9% of Americans claim to be superstitious, while another 35% admit to not being very superstitious, but somewhat. That makes over 40% of individuals in the United States somewhat superstitious.

So what does it mean to be superstitious? According to Cambridge Dictionary, it is to have beliefs that are not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, but are connected with old ideas about magic. Many times, superstitious people believe in irrational, unproven signs of good and bad luck.

In today’s episode, we’re going to go through 13 common superstitions in the United States and their origins. By the end of this audio lesson, you’ll walk away with more knowledge about American culture and some new vocabulary and phrases. I’ll teach those as we go along.

Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck!

*****

Buy Me a Coffee

*****
Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

*****

Support the show

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Today
⭐ Feature: 5-Minute English: A Day at the Beach
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self. In this immersive summer episode, you'll escape to the sun-drenched shores of an American beach and soak up advanced vocabulary, phras ... Show More
26m 7s
Jul 3
193 - Sharks, Swamps, and Sweet Tea: Our Wild Trip to South Carolina
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self. In this casual Chats with Shana episode, I’m taking you along on our sweaty summer trip to Charleston, South Carolina. 🌴 You’ll hear ... Show More
33m 11s
Jun 26
192.2 - American Bison (or Buffalo!)
You may be wondering: What’s the difference between a buffalo and a bison? That was the first question I had when researching this topic. And the answer is—well, a lot. Despite being from the same family (Bovidae), bison and buffalo have different hair, different horn shapes, and ... Show More
36m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2015
280. The UK's Top 13 Superstitions
What are the most common superstitions in the UK? What are the origins of these superstitions? Why do we believe these things? Are there any particular phrases in our language that relate to these superstitions? Listen to the episode to find out more and click here for a transcri ... Show More
1h 16m
Nov 2018
#067 English speaking practice - Superstitions
>> Get my new course: The PRONUNCIATION Course 2024! Visit PronunciationCourse.com and get the course! 
12m 40s
Aug 2023
Superstitions: Witch Marks, Touching Wood & Lucky Pants
Many of them pre-date modern religions and defy what science tells us about the world - from saluting magpies, to wearing lucky pants. Yet why do superstitions still have such a strong hold on our lives? Today we’re joined by Sally Coulthard, author of Superstition - the History ... Show More
40m 11s
Jan 2023
Folge 82 - Freitag, der 13.
Freitag, der 13.: ein Unglückstag? Viele Menschen in Deutschland glauben, dass dieser Tag Pech bringen kann. Woher kommt dieser Aberglaube? Und wie sieht es in anderen Ländern und Kulturen aus? Das Transkript dieser Folge findest du kostenlos auf www.14minuten.de Gefällt dir der ... Show More
14m 2s
May 2022
Ep 30: The psychology of superstitions
From carefully avoiding cracks in the pavement to saluting every magpie that you meet, superstitious behaviour is really common. But why do we have superstitions? Where do they come from? And are they helpful or harmful?  To find out, our presenter Ginny Smith talks to Stuart Vys ... Show More
20m 46s
May 2020
Aberglaube in Deutschland – SG #209
Meine beste Freundin ist Chinesin. Mit ihr habe ich über Aberglaube gesprochen. Denn wenn wir zusammen essen gehen, dürfen wir nicht vier verschiedene Dinge bestellen - denn vier ist eine Zahl, die Unglück bringt. So ist das zumindest in China. Hier in Deutschland mögen wir die v ... Show More
6m 42s
Apr 2024
S9 EP9: Put His Name In The Freezer
Welcome back! Being Persian we grew up in a culture full of superstition. Some of them we are so accustomed to believing like "The evil eye" and some of which we have always found down right HILARIOUS! Superstitions are such an interesting part of history and culture, so we asked ... Show More
46m 40s