Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) is calculated by taking a company's revenues and subtracting its expenses. Enron went bankrupt in December 2001 and confidence in financial reporting…
"There are no bears living on Park Avenue" means that the wealthy people who live on Park Avenue are not stock market pessimists ("bears") who believe that their wealth will…
"New York City -- The greatest country in the world" is a slogan on T-shirts and other gift items. "New York City, the greatest country in the world" has been cited in print…
The "happy hour" is usually the time an establishment serves reduced-price drinks; "happy hour" has been cited in print since at least 1951. Taco Bell trademarked "happier…
Financial author and frequent CNBC contributor Anthony Scaramucci wrote in Goodbye Gordon Gekko: How to Find Your Fortune Without Losing Your Soul (2010): "In 1989, I sat there, eager to be…
The Dominique Ansel Bakery, at 189 Spring Street in Manhattan, developed the "cronut" (croissant + doughnut) in May 2013. The bakery described the new creation: "Each one consists of…
"Sailgating" (sail + tailgating) is when a tailgate picnic is held from a boat instead of a car, van, or pickup truck. Sailgating can involve any boat -- not just sailboats. The tradition…
"Boatgating" (boat + tailgating) is when a tailgate picnic is held from a boat instead of a car, van, or pickup truck. The tradition appears to have started at the University of…
"Sterngating" (stern + tailgating) is when a tailgate picnic is held from a boat instead of a car, van, or pickup truck. The tradition appears to have started at the University of…
"Spagging" are Internet photos of people seemingly slurping down strands of spaghetti (or another long noodle). The word "spagging" was coined and made several websites in May…
"Hate injures the hater, not the hated" has usually been credited to Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981), who was born Mildred Lisette Norman. However, Peace Pilgrim clearly indicated that the…
“The rich invest in time, the poor invest in money" is almost always credited to American investor Warren Buffett, but it's uncertain if the widely quoted ( and well-cited) Buffett said…
"Profits are the mother's milk of stocks" is a Wall Street adage popularized by American business author, columnist, and television host Lawrence Kudlow. Kudlow has used the saying…
Walmart is a retail chain of large discount department stores. "Walmartization" can mean the coming of a Walmart store to a geographical area. "Walmartization," however, is most…
Jackson Heights, Queens, has been known as "Little India," but there are also immigrants from Tibet and Nepal. The website Little Tibet in New York wrote about a Tibetan food pushcart on…
University Heights in the Bronx has so many residents from Ghana (in east Africa) that it has been nicknamed "Little Accra" after Accra, the capital and largest city of Ghana.…
"Good food, good wine, good friends, good times" has been printed on posters. "Good food, good wine, good friends and 'the next time'" was cited in print in 1983. Good…
"Good moms have sticky floors, dirty ovens, and happy kids" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as kitchen plaques. "Good moms have sticky floors, messy…
"BoHo" is a neighborhood nickname that represents the Bowery below Houston Street in Manhattan. "BoHo" has been cited in print since at least 1998, but it has been rarely used.…
Times Square was briefly nicknamed "Eating-house Square" in 1910. Restaurants such as Rector's, the Cafe de l'Opera, the Knickerbocker Grill and Shanley's were located in…