New Mexico: Vermin State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. 22 March 1866, Louisville (KY) Daily Journal, "Nicknames," pg. 1, col. 4:New Mexico, Vermin State. 7 April 1866, The Daily Cleveland Herald (Cleveland, OH),…
Nebraska: Antelope State (nickname)
Nebraska had many antelope in its fields in the 19th century. The Nebraska nickname of "Antelope State" has been cited in print since at least 1866. Nebraska has also been called the…
Pok?rrito (pok? + burrito)
"Pokērrito" (pokē + burrito) is a name that was filed for a trademarked in September 2015. Los Angeles magazine described the dish (from Great Rice Balls of Fire) on January 28, 2016:…
Phorrito (pho + burrito)
"Phorrito" (pho + burrito) is a food combination that has been written about on Twitter since 2009. Komodo os Los Angeles tweeted on October 26, 2014, "You believe your tastebuds,…
“Sociology is just applied psychology, which is applied biology…”
Entry in progress -- B.P. TwitterMichael Gordon@birdmanmikeySociology is just applied psychology, which is applied biology, which is applied chemistry, which is applied physics, which is applied…
Beauty Contest (non-binding primary)
A political contest that has no binding vote and is mostly for show -- such as a straw poll -- is called a "beauty contest." The most attractive candidate wins, but it's all for…
“Do history exams get harder every year?”
"Do history exams get harder every year?" is a jocular one-liner. After each year, there is more history to learn! "I feel sorry for each new generation of students,since history…
Michigan: Michigander (nickname)
"Michigander" is one of several names -- such as "Michiganian" -- for a resident of Michigan. The name is a jocular combination of "Michigan" and "gander,"…
Colorado: Rover (nickname)
A resident of Colorado has been called a "Rover" since at least 1864, when this was included in a list of state nicknames. Gold was discovered at Pike's Peak in 1858, and an 1887…
Connecticut: Land of Steady Habits (nickname)
Connecticut is known as the "Land of Steady Habits." "They have steady habits" was cited in a 1794 Connecticut newspaper and "the steady habits of Connecticut" was…
“I come from a long line of conga dancers”
A dancer doing some genealogy might pun: "I come from a long line of conga dancers." The joke was cited on Sickipedia in 2010 and was first cited on Twitter on March 28, 2010. Wikipedia:…
“Are birth control pills tax-deductible?”/“Only if they don’t work.”
What's tax deductible? There's an old joke: Q: Are birth control pills tax-deductible?A: Only if they don't work. In 1967, a newspaper article said that birth control pills are tax…
“Any salad can be a Caesar salad if you stab it enough”
"Any salad can be a Caesar salad if you stab it enough" is a jocular line that has been printed on ecards. The line was cited on tumblr on November 11, 2013, and on Twitter on December…
Nevada: Sage Hen (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)sage cock n.1840 A. Wislizenus Ausflug nach Felsen-Gebirgen 1839 ix. 49 Sage cock, cock of the plains.sage hen n. = sage cock n.1843 J. Williams…
Virginia: Beadle (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksU. S. An Index to the United States of AmericaCompiled by Malcolm TownsendBoston, MA: D. Lothrop Company1890Pg. 81:NICKNAMES APPLIED TO THE PEOPLE OF THE…
West Virginia: Switzerland of America (nickname)
Many areas with mountains in the United States have been dubbed a "Switzerland of America." "The Green mountains of Vermont, the Switzerland of America" was cited in 1835. New…
Rhode Island: Little Rhody (nickname)
Rhode Island is the smallest state (in physical area) in the United States. The nickname "Little Rhody" (also ""Little Rhodie," "L'il Rhody" and "Little…
Kentucky: Red Horse (nickname)
A person from Kentucky was called a "Red Horse" in the 19th century. The red-tail sucker, a fish that was also called "red horse," was common in the Ohio River. "The…
Arkansas: Toothpick or Toothpicker (nickname)
An "Arkansas toothpick" is a jocular name for a dagger-like blade, similar to a Bowie knife. It was famous for ending fights, not picking teeth. "Arkansas tooth pick" was cited…
Louisiana: Pelican (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)The Brown Pelican and Louisiana HistoryThe brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) has a storied…