Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 38,000 entries.
Victor H. Potamkin established sucessful auto dealerships in New York City, Florida, and elsewhere. He advertised heavily on television, and his car dealership's slogan was: "If this…
New York City detectives Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito were accused in 2005 of also working for the Luchese crime family. They were quickly dubbed "Mafia cops" and were convicted…
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is on the west side of Manhattan, on Eleventh Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets. "Marketplace for the World" is its new, not-very-popular slogan.…
"New York" has been given the folksy spelling "Noo Yawk" or "New Yawk" or "Noo York." (New York Public Library "catnyp" record)Call # Pub. Cat.…
NY1 is New York City's all news network. The news network is known for low-cost production (although not lacking in youthful enthusiasm). Its one-man reporter/camera man on-the-scene reporting…
Washington Irving (1783-1859) was America's first great writer, and he authored the great American expression "the almighty dollar." (Oxford English Dictionary)almighty, a.…
The "push-in" robbery commonly occurs when someone waits for an elderly person to open the apartment door, and then pushes that person in the apartment and robs it. The term…
"The Big Peach" became somewhat popular as an Atlanta nickname after "the Big Apple" became popular in the 1970s. 2 August 1979, New York Times, pg. B16:WALL STREET LEAVE THE…
"Big Raisin" was somewhat popular in 1977 (during the 1970s "Big Apple" revival) as a nickname for Fresno, California. Fresno grows a lot of raisins.…
Before New York City had "ghost busters" it had "gang busters" or "gangbusters." The term probably originated in the 1920s with Captain Cornelius W. Willemse, who…
"Human high tide" is another term for "rush hour." The difference is that the former term ("human high tide") concerns people and the latter term ("rush…
"Knicker-botchers" appeared in 2006 for the same bad New York Knick basketball team that was also called "Team Turmoil" and "Team Titanic." The nickname…
The "studio" (or "studio apartment") is all in one room. It's usually the name for the smallest living space you can buy -- even smaller than a one-bedroom apartment. The…
The Cunard Line stopped in New York City. The Cunard Building, at 25 Broadway, is worth a visit. Cunard's famous slogan was "Getting There Is Half the Fun." Wikipedia: Cunard LineThe…
Columbia University has become known for outspoken professors, many of whom are agressively anti-American and anti-Israel. "Bir Zeit on the Hudson" has become (to some critics) a nickname…
Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Connecticut) is famous for its "Q-Poll" of local politics and issues. The polling started about 1990. Marist College (Poughkeepsie, New York) began its…
The New York Yankees of 1977 and the following years were called "the Bronx Zoo" by some and "Team Turmoil" by others. However, that team of high-priced superstars usually won.…
The historic Flatiron Building is at 23rd Street and Broadway. The "little Flatiron Building" (the Herring Lock and Safe Company Building) is on Hudson Street, between 13th and 14th…
Morgan Stanley is one of the world's largest financial firms. "One client at a time" is its relatively new slogan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_StanleyMorgan Stanley was…
The investment firm of Merrill Lynch is symbolized by the bull, representing a bull market. Its famous ad campaign stressed that Merrill Lynch is "bullish on America." Wikipedia: Merrill…