Texas Triangle (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio)
National Basketball Association teams often speak of the tough "Texas Triangle" road trip against the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. The term "Texas…
“What Starts Here Changes the World” (University of Texas)
"What starts here changes the world" is the theme of promotional television spots that the University of Texas produced in 2004. The ads -- aired during televised athletic events -- show…
“And the horse you rode in on”
"...and the horse you rode in on" (there's a first part to that -- see the citations below) appears (at first glance) to be from some western movie. Citations have been found from…
“Don’t Mess With Texas—We’re Armed”
"Don't Mess With Texas" is the famous 1986-86 anti-littering campaign. "Don't mess with Texas -- we're armed" is an unofficial variation (from at least 1997) that…
“Houston. It’s Worth It”
"Houston. It's Worth It" ("HIWI" for short) began in 2004; the unusual city promotional campaign acknowledges Houston's many problems, but declares that the city it…
“Keep Dallas Pretentious”
"Keep Dallas Pretentious" is yet another imitation of the popular slogan "Keep Austin Weird." "Keep Dallas Pretentious" T-shirts have appeared from 2005. "Keep…
“The only people who put ketchup on hot dogs are mental patients and Texans”
"The only people who put ketchup on hot dogs are mental patients and Texans." This quote was in the movie Bad News Bears (2005 version) and also appeared on a T-shirt. About the truth of…
“Lubbock Or Leave It”
"Lubbock or leave it" is a takeoff of the familiar phrase "love it or leave it." "Lubbock Or Leave It" was the title of a 2006 song by the Dixie Chicks. The origin of…
“Keep Lubbock Flat”
"Keep Lubbock Flat" is another takeoff of the popular city slogan "Keep Austin Weird." "Keep Lubbock Flat" dates from about early 2006. The seemingly endless imitation…
“Boy, Hidy!” (or “Boy, Howdy!”)
"Boy, hidy!" (or "Boy, howdy!") is now regarded as usually a Texas expression. "Boy, howdy!" was popular in 1918, during World War I. The origin or the phrase is…
“Other states were carved or born, Texas grew from hide and horn” (Berta Hart Nance)
"Other states were carved or born, Texas grew from hide and horn" is the beginning of Berta Hart Nance's poem "Cattle" (1932). Handbook of Texas OnlineNANCE, BERTA HART…
City of the Violet Crown (Austin nickname)
Athens, Greece was called the "City of the Violet Crown" or "City of the Violet-Crowned Hills." Some say that when Athens was ruled by King Ion (Ion = "violet"),…
“If the good Lord’s willin’ (and the creeks don’t rise)”
"If the Good Lord's Willin' (and the Creeks Don't Rise)" means that if all goes well and nothing unforeseen occurs, this event will happen. "If The Good Lord's…
“Cry calf rope” (or “Holler calf rope” or “Yell calf rope”)
"Cry calf rope" (or "holler calf rope" or "yell calf rope") means the same as "cry uncle" -- an admission of defeat. It comes from the phrase that if you…
Chile Stand (Chili Stand); Tamale Stand
Many websites describe a "San Antonio Chili Stand" that was on display at Chicago's 1893 Columbian Exposition (World's Fair). Chile (chili) stands and tamale stands were popular…
Tamale Town; Tamaleville (San Antonio nicknames)
"Tamale Town" and "Tamaleville" are old nicknames for San Antonio that date from the 1880s and 1890s. San Antontio was famous for the tamale. The nicknames are historical and…
Chow Chow
Chow chow is a Southern dish of vegetables such as cabbage, onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc. The name comes from pidgen English, and it is believed that "chow chow" was popularized by…
Fluff Duff
"Fluff duff" is "fancy food" in cowboy language. There is a date dish called "fluff duff" that dates to the early 1900s. 15 January 1908, Grand Rapids (MI) Tribune,…
Chow
"Chow" is a Chinese term and probably came into use in America in California in the 1850s. To the cowboy, "chow" meant something to eat. Google BooksDictionary of the American…
Blipster
"Blipster" = black + hipster. The term received popularity in the January 28, 2007 New York Times article "Truly Indie Fans" by Jamie Pressler. The term "blipster" is…