San Antone (San Antonio)
San Antonio has been called "San Antone" from at least the 1840s. 7 May 1840, Army and Navy Chronicle, "Texian Navy," pg. 296:Schooners:San JacintoSan BernardSan Antone January…
“If you know beans about chili, you know that chili has no beans” (1976)
"If you know beans about chili, you know that chili has no beans" is a 1976 song by Ken Finlay, owner of the Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas. The song has been sung at many…
Chili Powder
Chili powder may have been invented (or at least popularized) by the Gebhardt Chili Powder Company of San Antonio in the 1890s. Chili powder contains ingredients such as cayenne pepper, garlic…
Chilympiad
The Chilympiad had been held in San Marcos since 1970. The chili cookoff event lost money in 2001 and 2002 and was cancelled in 2003. Handbook of TexasCHILYMPIAD. The annual Chilympiad celebration,…
White Glove Building
A "white glove building" is a building with a doorman or concierge who wears white gloves. Some people think the term is for an ultraclean building that passes the "white glove…
Dallas County Jail Chili (Texas Prison Chili)
Dallas County Jail chili (or Texas prison chili) supposedly originated in the 1930s in the Dallas County Jail. Dallas Sheriff Smoot Schmid (sometimes spelled Smood or Schmidt) became famous for it.…
Chili Queen (or Chile Queen)
A "chili queen" (or "chile queen") was a woman most famously in the 1880 and 1890s who sold chili. The term was popular in San Antonio, and the chili queens operated near or in…
“Full of wind as a corn-eating horse”
"As full of wind as a corn-eatin' horse" has been on several Texas slang collections on the internet. The saying has been around since at least 1998. Texas TriflesFriday, March 19,…
Proud City
"Proud City" was a short-lived nickname coined by Mayor John Lindsay in 1966. "Fun City" was also Lindsay's. 1 January 1966, New York Herald Tribune, pg. 1:John V. Lindsay…
Texas Draw (buy/sell agreement)
A buy/sell agreement is sometimes called a "Texas Draw" in real estate lingo. Detroit NewsSunday, February 2, 2003Taubman's son fights to save his dad's empireHe shows jailed…
City of Syrup (Houston nickname)
"City of Syrup" (or "Syrup City") is a nickname for Houston that was popularized by Big Moe's "City of Syrup" (2000) hip-hop recording. The nickname refers to the…
Texas Tonion (LongHorn Steakhouse)
The LongHorn Steakhouse chain of restaurants has trademarked a "Texas Tonion" deep-fried onion appetizer. Other Texas-themed foods are on the LongHorn menu. LongHorn Steakhouse
Metroplex (Dallas/Fort Worth nickname)
To celebrate the 1973 opening of the new Dallas/Fort Worth airport (then the nation's largest), a new name was used. In 1972, the North Texas Comission trademarked "Metroplex" and…
Texas Sunrise (Big Red + tequila)
Big Red is a soda from Waco, Texas. A "Texas Sunrise" is Big Red and tequila. A "Tequila Sunrise" is tequila, orange juice, and grenadine. Urban DictionaryBig RedA soda from…
“Don’t call him a cowboy till you’ve seen him ride”
"Don't call him a cowboy till you've seen him ride" means the same as "don't judge a book by its cover." The phrase "Don't call him a cowboy" was…
Beltbuster (1/2 pound hamburger)
Texas Dairy Queens have offered a "beltbuster" sandwich since 1971. It appears that Chicago-area restaurants offered a "belt buster" sandwich from 1969. Bob's BBQ &…
Mex-Mex and New Mex-Mex
"Mex-Mex" is simply Mexican food, a term that's a spin-off of "Tex-Mex." "New Mex-Mex" is New Mexican-Mexican food. The term "Mex-Mex" may have been…
Mexonesian (Mexican + Polynesian)
The Hula Hut on Lake Austin serves "Mexonesian" (Mexican + Polynesian) cuisine. It appears that the Hula Hut coined the term. Hula HutMexonesian Shrimp FlautasFried Wontons stuffed with…
“One Riot—One Ranger” (Texas Rangers)
The Texas Rangers are a tough breed. They were often outnumbered, and the "one riot -- one Ranger" statement is possibly true. Texas Department of Public Safety -- Texas RangersOne Riot,…
Menudo
Menudo is a tripe stew. It's been cited in English from about 1900. 25 September 1904, Mexican Herald, pg. 9, col. 2:Peon Restaurant of City of Mexico:"Square Meals" For From Two…