DiscoverPlain EnglishKeep calm and carry on: the backstory
Keep calm and carry on: the backstory

Keep calm and carry on: the backstory

Update: 2025-10-162
Share

Description

Today's story: A British wartime propaganda poster created in 1939 featured the slogan, ‘Keep calm and carry on.’ The poster was never used and the slogan had been forgotten, until it was rediscovered in 2000. In a brand-new age, the slogan took on new meaning, and started to appear on posters, mugs, t-shirts, and countless online memes.

Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/811

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/811

--

Plain English helps you improve your English:

  • Learn about the world and improve your English
  • Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
  • New stories every week
  • Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app

Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Keep calm and carry on: the backstory

Keep calm and carry on: the backstory