The Big Apple:

An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.

“Wine, dine and sixty-nine”

"Wine, dine and sixty-nine" (also "Wine me, dine me, sixty-nine me") is one version of date. The slang term "sixty-nine" (69) is a sexual position. "Wine me, Dine…

“Ball is life”

"Ball is life" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying "ball is life" is a reverse of the older saying, "life is a ball." The "ball"…

Untaper

"Taper" became a financial buzzword in 2013, when there was speculation that the Federal Reserve would lessen its "quantitative easing" (what some have called…