The Big Apple:

An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.

Hawaii Five-O (Chinese dish)

Hawaii Five-O was an American police procedural drama series that aired from 1968 to 1980. The series was revived in 2010. The Chinese dish of "Hawaii Five-O" (often called “Hawaii…

Happy Family (Chinese dish)

"Happy Family" is a popular Chinese-American dish at many restaurants, but the ingredients can vary. Ch'uen chi fu ("happy family") was cited in the Brooklyn (NY) Daily…

Eno’s Folly (Fifth Avenue Hotel nickname)

When Amos Richards Eno (1810-1898) planned the Fifth Avenue Hotel in the early 1850s for Madison Square (200 Fifth Avenue, on the southwest corner between 23rd Street and 24th Street), it was so…

Easy Lay (Hotel Elysée nickname)

Manhattan's Hotel Elysée (60 East 54th Street between Madison and Park Avenues) was founded in 1926 and has been frequented by many writers and actors. American playwright Tennessee Williams…

“Fast food is an oxymoron”

"Since 'to fast' means 'not to eat', and food is 'that which is to eat', it follows that 'fast food' is an oxymoron—food NOT to eat!" was posted…