Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Many people use a credit/discount card to scrape off ice from a car windshield. "RT @Noot54: Damn cold this morning! Had to use store discount card to scrape the ice from the car windscreen,…
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates the subways and buses in New York City. The Daily News (New York, NY) front page headline on January 31, 2019, provided a nickname:…
A joke about "picking up fish and chips" has the food item as proper names. "I phoned my wife. 'Do you want me to pick up fish and chips on my way home?' I think she still…
The word "legendary" has had some "ledge and dairy" (or "ledge 'n' dairy") puns. "Ledge n dairy" was posted on Twitter by Dan on March 12, 2009.…
"Volleyball is just a more intense version of 'don't let the balloon touch the floor'" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "Volleyball :) RT…
American composer and lyricist Irving Berlin (1888-1989) grew up in extreme poverty in Manhattan's Lower East Side. However, he enjoyed many friendships and the cultural richness that the…
American composer and lyricist Irving Berlin (1888-1989) wrote many famous songs. American critic and commentator Alexander Woollcott (1887-1943) wrote the article "The Story of Irving…
American writer and satirist Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) loved New York City. Parker wrote in the article "My Home Town" for McCall's magazine in January 1928: "London is…
The Committee in the Public Interest sought to improve New York City's public image in 1976, leading to its hosting of the Democratic National Convention that year. William E.…
"Thumbprint cookies" have sometimes been called "Swedish cookies" ("hallongrotta" or plural "hallongrottor"). The butter cookies are indented with a…
"Rum Raisin" is a flavor most often used in ice cream; the raisins are soaked in rum. It's not known who invented "rum raisin," but it was listed in several ice cream shops…
An old calendar rhyme is: "Thirty days hath September,April, June, and November;All the rest have thirty-one,Excepting February alone,And that has twenty-eight days clearAnd twenty-nine in…
Many businesses are opened by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. But what if the business is repairing ribbons? "The opening ceremony for my ribbon repair business was pretty confusing" was…
"Wanton destruction" should not be confused with "wonton destruction." "Dr. Howe discussed the rise of Chinese nationalism (...) and 'wonton' destruction"…
The Committee in the Public Interest sought to improve New York City's public image in 1976, leading to its hosting of the Democratic National Convention that year. William E.…
The Committee in the Public Interest sought to improve New York City's public image in 1976, leading to its hosting of the Democratic National Convention that year. William E.…
A "cake shake" adds cake to an ice cream (or yogurt) shake. Sonic Drive-In restaurants sold a "50th Birthday Cake Shake" in 2003, to celebrate its founding in 1953. White sheet…
"Liu Sha Bao" (or "Liu Sa Bao") are Chinese custard salted egg yolk buns. Recipes vary -- some have salted duck eggs and some don't, some have coconut milk and some…
Smith & Wollensky, a chain of American steakhouses, began in 1977 at East 49th Street and Third Avenue in Manhattan. "Colorado Rib Steak" (32 ounces) has been one of the…
"Aztec soup" or "Aztec tortilla soup" ("sopa Azteca" in Spanish) is another name for "tortilla soup." Mexico City is the probable origin for tortilla soup…