Trekathon (trek + marathon)
A "trekathon" (trek + marathon) is an extensive trek, usually up a mountain. "Trek-a-thon" has been cited in print since at least 1998. The website trekathon.com explained in…
“Do you want a Hurts donut?” (joke)
A popular donut oun is: PERSON A: Do you want a Hertz?Hurts donut/doughnut?PERSON B: Ummm, okay.PERSON A (hurts other person): Hurts, don't it? The joke has been cited in print since at least…
“There is no truth in news and no news in truth” (Russian Izvestia and Pravda adage)
The Soviet Union had two important propaganda newspapers. Pravda ("truth") was the communist party newspaper and was published between 1912 and 1991. Izvestia ("news") was the…
Babylon on the Make
American writer Lucius Beebe called New York City "Babylon on the make" in his column in the New York (NY) Herald Tribune on June 26, 1937. Beebe also used "Babylon on the make"…
Garden City (Chicago nickname)
Chicago, Illinois has used the Latin motto "Urbs in Horto" (city in a garden) since 1837. There weren't many gardens and there wasn't much city, but Chicago had aspirations.…
Chi-raq (Chicago nickname)
"Chi-raq" or "Chiraq" (Chicago + Iraq) is a Chicago nickname that compares the violence of Chicago in the 2000s to the war-town country of Iraq. It's not known who first…
Chiberia (Chicago nickname)
"Chiberia (Chicago + Siberia) is a nickname that has been used during Chicago's winter storms. Siberia is a cold place and is often used as a weather metonym. "Chi-beria. Yeah, you…
Paris on the Prairie (Chicago nickname)
St. Louis, Missouri was called "Paris on the Prairie" in 1867. Denver, Colorado was called "Paris on the prairie" in 1894. Daniel Burnham (1846-1912) co-authored a 1909 Plan of…
Second City (Chicago nickname)
THe term "second city" usually refers to a nation's second most populous city. New York City has always been the first city after every United States census. From 1890 until 1990,…
Chi-Town (Chicago nickname)
Chicago is sometimes called "Chi-town." "Chi" (for Chicago) is pronounced "shy." "The 'Chi' town men who were going down to St. Louis" was printed…
City on the Make (Chicago nickname)
American author Lucius Beebe (1902-1966) called New York City "Babylon on the Make" in 1937 and several times in the 1940s. Atlanta was called a "city on the make" in…
City That Works (Chicago nickname)
Several cities have been called a "city that works." The expression can mean that the city has a strong manufacturing base, or that the city efficiently delivers municipal services.…
Party of the Year (Met Gala nickname)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has held an annual fundraiser since 1948, called the Costume Institute Gala, but usually known as the "Met Gala" or "Met…
Oscars of the East Coast (Met Gala nickname)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has held an annual fundraiser since 1948, called the Costume Institute Gala, but usually known as the "Met Gala" or "Met…
“What do you call an emo vegetable?”/“A despair-agus.”
"Despairagus" (despair + asparagus) is a portmanteau word that has been called the "saddest vegetable." The word "despairagus" was used in the newsgroup rec.humor in…
Hudson River: American Rhine (Hudson River nickname)
New York's Hudson River was frequently compared to Germany's famous Rhine River in 19th century accounts. THe Hudson was called "the Rhine of America" in 1836. The term…
Healthonism (health + hedonism); Healthonist
"Healthonism" (health + hedonism) and "healthonist" (health + hedonist) are terms that were coined in reports by J. Walter Thompson Intelligence in 2015. In "The Future of…
“What did the hot dog vendor say at the World Trade Center?” (joke)
The September 11, 2001 attacks that destroyed New York City's World Trade Center quickly became the subject of jokes. This joke was cited on September 25, 2001: Q: What did the hot dog seller…
Plattsburgh: Montreal’s U.S. Airport (Plattsburgh International Airport nickname)
Plattsburgh (NY) International Airport gave itself a nickname in an August 18, 2005 press release: "It is being recognized as 'MONTREAL'S U.S. AIRPORT' based on its strategic…
First In, Still Here (FISH)
"First In, Still Here" (FISH) is an infrequently used accounting acronym, similar to "First in, First Out" (FIFO) and "Last In, First Out" (LIFO). FISH has been cited…