Bone Alley
"Bone Alley" used to be a densely populated and filthy area of Manhattan, at Pitt Street and Willett Street. The New-York (NY) Daily Tribune of May 12, 1875 probably explains the name:…
“Salad dressing is just lettuce gravy”
Is salad dressing just lettuce gravy? "Cooks coined new word for salad dressing...'lettuce gravy' I don't know about that one..." was cited on Twitter on February 25, 2011.…
“Police are a fraternity, fire personnel are a brotherhood, and EMTs are family”
A 2015 newspaper story mentioned "an old saying in the EMT business is that police are a fraternity, fire personnel are a brotherhood and EMTs are family." It's not known how…
Bandits’ Roost (59 Mulberry Street)
"Bandits' Roost" was located at 59 Mulberry Street. It was destroyed in the 1890s to create Mulberry Bend Park, now known as Columbus Park. The name "Bandits' Roost,"…
Thieves’ Alley (5 Norfolk Street)
"Thieves' Alley" was a criminal area located at 5 Norfolk Street. It was destroyed in the 1890s to create Mulberry Bend Park, now known as Columbus Park. "Thieves'…
Kerosene Row
"Kerosene Row" was an area of Mulberry Bend that was prone to fires. It was destroyed in the 1890s to create Mulberry Bend Park, now known as Columbus Park. "Kerosene Row" was…
“Laughter is the closest distance between two people”
"Laughter is the closest/shortest distance between two people" has been credited to Danish comedian and pianist Victor Borge (1908-2000), who used several variations of this saying.…
“Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer” (pun)
"The Christmas Song" (often called by its opening line, "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") made its way, by at least 1972, into a popular and terrible chess pun: "Chess…
“My wife will buy anything that’s marked down. Yesterday, she brought home an escalator!”
"My wife will buy anything marked down," goes an old joke told by a male comedian. "Yesterday, she brought home an escalator!" The joke has been cited in print since at least…
Poor Man’s Butter (avocado)
The avocado was called the "poor man's butter" in Latin American countries, where the rich, buttery texture and mild nutty flavor was used in place of butter fat. "Poor…
“A filibuster is a long speech about nothing by an authority on the subject”
"A filibuster is a long speech about nothing by an authority on the subject" is a jocular definition of the filibuster. The definition was given in the "Comic Dictionary"…
“A signature reveals a man’s character—and sometimes even his name”
"A signature always reveals a man's character — and sometimes even his name" is a jocular line that has been credited to humorist and author Evan Esar (1899-1995), who included it…
“If a musical takes off enough clothes in summer, it usually runs through winter”
Life magazine (a New York City humor magazine) in 1921 gave an interesting maxim for musical comedy: "If a musical show takes off enough clothes in the summer it usually runs through the…
“A musical comedy must have good legs for a long run”
What would a musical be without its dancers? A saying (of unknown authorship) has been cited in print since at least 1928: "A musical comedy with good legs ought to have a long run." 17…
Tofucken (tofu + turducken)
Turducken (turkey + duck + chicken) is a popular Thanksgiving meal, and there is also vegetarian or vegan turducken, called "vegducken/veggieducken." A vegetarian turducken with tofu (or…
Vegducken or Veggieducken (veggie + turducken)
Turducken (turkey + duck + chicken) is a popular Thanksgiving meal. There have been many imitations made without meat. "What next, vegetarian Turducken?" was a newspaper headline in…
“Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?” (knock-knock joke)
"Orange you glad I didn't say banana?" is the punchline of a famously bad "knock-knock" joke. The joke has been recorded since at least 1960. Wikipedia: Knock-knock jokeThe…
“Food is an important part of a balanced diet”
New York City-based author Fran Lebowitz wrote in Metropolitan Life (1978): "Food is an important part of a balanced diet." The one-line saying has been frequently cited. Wikipedia: Fran…
Hamburger Disease (hemolytic uremic syndrome)
"Hamburger disease" (hemolytic uremic syndrome) was named after disease outbreaks at McDonald's restaurants in 1982 and was popularized by E. coli outbreaks at Jack in the Box…
Crybully (crybaby + bully)
A "crybully" (crybaby + bully) is someone who wants to claim victimization so he or she can bully others. The claim might be in the form of a hoax or an exaggerated, overplayed incident.…