Tube Steak (Tubesteak)
A "tube steak" is another name for a "hot dog." The origin of the name isn't known, but "tube steak" appears in slang from at least the 1930s. "Tube…
Champagne of the South (sweet tea)
"Champagne of the South" or "Southern Champagne" is another name for sweet tea. It's iced tea that's very, very sweet and is a favorite from Georgia to Texas. RC Cola…
“What it do”
"What it do" means the same as "What's up?" Both San Francisco/Oakland and Houston claim the origin of this hip hop phrase, although African-American slang has used similar…
Waco (Dr. Pepper); Dallas (Coke); Waxahachie (a Dr. Pepper and a Coke)
Dr. Pepper began in Waco, Texas. In the 1930s, "Waco" was drug store slang for an order of Dr. Pepper. "Dallas" was slang for an order of Coca-Cola (then bottled in Dallas).…
New York Hot Dog Onion Sauce (New York Onion Sauce)
New York hot dog onion sauce (or, New York onion sauce) is served on pushcart hot dogs. The recipes vary. 15 March 1995, Elyria (OH) Chronicle-Telegram, pg. B8, col. 3:NEW YORK PUSHCART HOT DOG…
Chihuahua Sandwich
The Chihuahua Sandwich was popularized by R. A. "Skeet" Noret and his wife, Sarah, at the Sky-Vue Drive In at Lamesa, Texas. The sandwich -- no chihuahuas are included -- contains chili,…
South Waco Shrimp (chicken tails)
"South Waco shrimp" is another name for chicken tails. The dish is served at Krispy Chicken in Waco. Ask the ExpertYou can also look for Krispy Chicken phone 254-754-3869 located @ 601 S.…
“Never wrestle with a pig—you get dirty and the pig likes it”
"Never wrestle with a pig -- you get dirty and the pig likes it" has been said to be Abraham Lincoln-esque, but there is no record that Lincoln said anything like it. The saying has been…
“Sam Houston made us free; Sam Colt made us equal”
"Sam Houston made us free; Sam Colt made us equal" was a saying popularized by Gene Howe, who wrote "The Tactless Texan" column for the Amarillo Globe-News that he published. In…
Burger (from “hamburger”)
"Burger" is a shortened form of "hamburger." Ben Zimmer of the Oxford English Dictionary found the following early citations from Penn State. Penn State Collegian22 July 1926,…
Hot Dog & Mustard
No one knows who the first person was who added mustard to a hot dog. The hot dog & mustard combination was popular by at least 1851, when Charles Dickens wrote about it. Google BooksHousehold…
You Have No Idea (El Paso slogan)
"You have no idea" is the 2007 slogan for El Paso. City leaders discovered that many people (both Texans and non-Texans) had no idea what El Paso was like. A previous El Paso slogan was…
Gustnado (Gust + Tornado)
A "gustnado" is a portmanteau of the words "gust" and "tornado." Gustnadoes are short-lived, shallow mini-cylcone formations that develop on a gust front along with…
Bloody Maria (cocktail)
The Bloody Maria is named after the Bloody Mary. However, instead of vodka and tomato juice (as in the Bloody Mary), the Bloody Maria has tequila and tomato juice. The Bloody Maria is cited from…
Coney Sauce (Coney Island Sauce; Hot Dog Sauce)
Coney sauce (also called Coney Island sauce or hot dog sauce) is what's put on a "coney" or "Coney Island" ("hot dog"). It often contains chili (without beans),…
Coney Island (Coney; Coney Dog)
A "hot dog" is often called a "Coney Island," or "Coney" ("coney") for short. Sometimes, it's "coney dog." "Coney Island (sandwich)"…
Chicken Kiev (Chicken a la Kiev)
Chicken Kiev (or Chicken a la Kiev) is named after the capital of the Ukraine. The origin of the dish is uncertain. Some hold that the dish was invented by Russian immigrants in cities such as New…
“Wreck ‘em, Tech” (Texas Tech)
"Wreck 'em, Tech" is disputed. Texas Tech claims that it's part of an old college slogan, but Red Raider Outfitter claims that it was not trademarked when they marketed…
Blondie (Blond Brownie or Blonde Brownie)
A "blondie" is a "blond brownie" (or "blonde brownie"), a light-colored brownie. Chocolate is replaced by brown sugar and vanilla extract to give them the lighter…
Chocolate Brownie
Chocolate brownies are cited from at least 1898. There are 1896 and 1897 citations for "brownies," but these contained molasses and not chocolate. The name "brownie" was popular…