Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Above, the header from the February 18, 1924 New York (NY) Morning Telegraph newspaper column of John J. Fitz Gerald. Click to see a portion of the column which includes his use of "Big…
"Not all relationships will lead to marriage. Some will help you discover new restaurants" (or "Most relationships won't lead to marriage, but at least they help you find new…
"Not all relationships will lead to marriage. Some will help you discover new restaurants" (or "Most relationships won't lead to marriage, but at least they help you find new…
William Curtis Gibson (1857-1921), a New York editor of Puck magaine and later of Cosmopolitan magazine, invented the "Gibson" cocktail. Edward W. Townsend (1855-1942) wrote in The…
Soda fountain slang (also called "diner slang" or "restuarant slang" or "hash house Greek") is mostly of historical interest today. A numerical list: 5 (five) --…
Newspapers.com 26 October 1937, Stuart (FL) Daily News, "Ye Editor's Easy Chair," pg. 2, col. 1: "Seventy-two." (Two cups of coffee.)
Newspapers.com 26 October 1937, Stuart (FL) Daily News, "Ye Editor's Easy Chair," pg. 2, col. 1: "Seventy-one." (One cup coffee.)
"Civic Fame" is the 1913 statue by sculptor Adolph Alexander Weinman (1870-1952) that tops New York City's David N. Dinkins Municipal Building. New York's famed civic models…
Binghamton, New York, has been called the "Parlor City (of the Southern Tier)" since 1873. "Parlor City" means a city that is refined, with beautiful homes, gardens and cultural…
A regional sandwich name in Westchester (Yonkers) for the hero/sub/hoagie is "wedge." "According to some people, a wedge sandwich is a loaf of bread, sliced in two and filled with…
"I should worry" became a famous slang phrase in the United States in 1912 and 1913. "I should worry. I should fret. I should marry a suffragette..." and "I should worry, I…
"I should worry" became a famous slang phrase in the United States in 1912 and 1913. "I should worry. I should fret. I should marry a suffragette..." and "I should worry, I…
"Take a local, take an express, don't get off 'til you reach success" is a motivational rhyme that was printed in The Echo (New Lebanon, NY) on March 6, 1951. It refers to local…
Newspapers.com 10 July 1985, The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN), "Soda jerk unique on American scene" by Ink Mendelsohn, pg. 5, col. 4: FIFTY-FIVE -- root beer Newspapers.com 29 November 1997,…
Newspapers.com 29 November 1997, Pueblo (CO) Chieftain, "Word Mysteries" by Chris Woodka, pg. 5A, col. 4: 5 -- Large glass of milk (2 1/2 was a small glass).
Newspapers.com 8 April 1939, Sheboygan (WI) Press, "What Is Your Number?," pg. 14, col. 2: 21 -- The customer who doesn't tip.
Newspapers.com 8 April 1939, Sheboygan (WI) Press, "What Is Your Number?," pg. 14, col. 2: 99 -- An exceptionally pretty girl has arrived.
Newspapers.com 8 April 1939, Sheboygan (WI) Press, "What Is Your Number?," pg. 14, col. 2: 90 -- A pretty girl has arrived.
Newspapers.com 1 April 1946, Roanoke (VA) World-News, "Observant Citizen" by W. C. Stouffer, pg. 6, col. 7: "Fifty-one" means a hot chocolate and "ninety-one" for an…
Newspapers.com 1 April 1946, Roanoke (VA) World-News, "Observant Citizen" by W. C. Stouffer, pg. 6, col. 7: "Eighty-eight" means the guy is standing there with his dough…