New England: Eel (nickname)
Eel fishing was very popular in New England in the 19th century. "The Yankees are called Eels" was cited in an 1834 newspaper. "The Eels of New-England" was cited in a passage…
Snowzilla (snow + Godzilla)
"Snowzilla" (snow + Godzilla) is the name of a snow monster -- such as a snowman, a snow machine or a snowstorm. "Snowzilla" was the 1999 name of a snow sculpture, the 2004 name…
Origin of “Gopher” (Minnesota nickname)
Minnesota officially became a state on May 11, 1858. Slightly before 1858, Minnesota had been called the "Gopher State" and its residents called "Gophers." A widely reprinted…
Origin of “Buckeye” (Ohio nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Aesculus glabraThe tree species Aesculus glabra is commonly known as Ohio buckeye, American buckeye, or fetid buckeye. Glabra is one of 13–19 species of…
Origin of “Badger” (Wisconsin nickname)
People from Wisconsin are nicknamed "Badgers." The University of Wisconsin officially adopted the "Badgers" nickname in 1889. "A keen-eyed leather-belted "badger"…
Origin of “Sucker” (Illinois nickname)
People from Illinois were called "Suckers" in the 1800s, and Illinois was called the "Sucker State." As explained in an 1845 issue of the Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle by someone…
Origin of “Wolverine” (Michigan nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Conrad Ten EyckConrad "Old Coon" Ten Eyck (August 13, 1782 – August 23, 1847), also known as Conrad TenEyck or Teneyck, was an American politician…
Puke State (Missouri nickname)
People from Missouri were called "Pukes" in the 1800s, and Missouri was called the "Puke State." As explained in an 1845 issue of the Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle by someone…
“A brain walks into a bar…” (bar joke)
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A popular joke involving a brain is: "A brain walks into a bar and asks for a pint of…
“Don’t stop and throw stones at every dog that barks” (business adage)
"Cast not a stone at every dog that barks" is a proverb that has been cited since at least 1579. British statesman Winston Churchill (1874-1965) said in 1923: "You will never get to…
“A ghost walks into a bar…” (bar joke)
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A popular version involving a ghost is: "A ghost walks into a bar. The bartender says,…
City of Flour and Sawdust (Minneapolis nickname)
"City of Flour and Sawdust" is a 19th century nickname of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, reflecting its industry of flour mills and lumber mills. "Minneapolis -- City of Flour…
“My friend swallowed some coins and was taken to the hospital” (joke)
People sometimes swallow coins, and it's one of the oldest of American puns: "My friend swallowed some coins and was taken to the hospital. I asked the nurse about his condition, but she…
“I haven’t owned a watch for I don’t know how long”
"For I don't know how long" is an expression for a long period of time, but there's a joke: "I haven't owned a watch for I don't know how long." The joke was…
“Why is the Statue of Liberty surrounded by water?” (riddle)
One popular Statue of Liberty riddle is: Q: Why is the Statue of Liberty surrounded by water?A: She held her hand up, but the teacher didn't call on her soon enough. The joke appeared in the…
“How does the Pope get around New York City?”/“Mass transit.”
Pope Paul VI was the first pope to visit the United States when he came to New York City in 1965. Pope John Paul II came to New York City in 1979 and 1995. Pope Benedict XVI came to New York City…
Little Chitaly (Little Italy + Chinatown)
"Little Chitaly" (Little Italy + Chinatown) is a nickname that reflects a blending of two classic Manhattan neighborhoods. Little Italy began shrinking after the 1960s, and Chinatown grew…
Little Fuzhou or Fuzhou Town (East Broadway, Manhattan; Sunset Park, Brooklyn)
Manhattan's Chinatown originally had Cantonese speakers. In the 1980s and 1990s, Mandarin speakers from the Fujian Province of China moved in, especially around East Broadway. The nickname…
Club Trillion (basketball slang for a benchwarmer’s statistics)
"One trillion" is basketball slang is when a player plays one minute, followed in the box score by a row of zeros -- 0 field goals, 0 three-point field goals, 0 foul shots, 0 points, 0…
Snackwave
"Snackwave" was coined by Hazel Cills and Gabrielle Noone, as explained in this tweet on December 15, 2013 from Cills: "last night @twelveoclocke and I coined 'snackwave'…