Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Entry in progress -- B.P. Gumbo PagesOYSTER AND ARTICHOKE SOUPThis is one of the great soups of New Orleans, one of the great soups of all time! The original version was the gift of the late Chef…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Pea soupPea soup is soup made, typically, from dried peas. It is, with variations, a part of the cuisine of many cultures. It is greyish-green or yellow in…
Entry in progress -- B.P. WiktionaryAdjectivelike white on rice (not comparable)1. Inseparable; in very close proximity; following closely. Adverblike white on rice (not comparable)1. Inseparably;…
"Women cook and men grill" (or "men grill and women cook") is a saying that's been in use since at least 2006 and is now printed on grilling gift items. Grilling (and…
"Burnt is just another flavor" (or "burnt is another flavor" or "burnt is a flavor") is a saying that has appeared on gift items since at least 2006. A drawing of a…
"Taxes have consequences" means that raising taxes ("raising" is almost always the case) does not simply raise revenue. People and businesses often refuse to pay a tax and flee…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Street foodStreet food is food obtainable from a streetside vendor, often from a makeshift or portable stall. While some street foods are regional, many are…
"Cranberry iced tea" is cited in print since 1959, but the drink became popular in the early 1990s. By at least 1999, the Red Lobster restaurant chain offered its own cranberry iced tea,…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Foot votingIn demographics, foot voting describes the tendency of people to "vote with their feet", that is to migrate when they perceive situations…
"No one wants to eat in an empty restaurant" (or "Nobody wants to eat in an empty restaurant") means that, while people enjoy not waiting in a crowded restaurant, an empty…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Merriam-Webster DictionaryMain Entry: 1take·down Pronunciation: \ˈtāk-ˌdau̇n\ Function: noun Date: 1893 1 : the action or an act of taking down 2 : something (as a…
"It's as easy to marry a rich man/woman as a poor one" (or "It's as easy to fall in love with a rich man/woman as a poor one") is an answer to statement that one…
'Trillion is the new billion" became popular in September-October 2008, after a financial meltdown. A federal Toxic Asset Relief Program (TARP) was established to save America's…
"You can't eat decor" (or "you can't eat the decor") means that a restaurant should serve good food. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that a restaurant…
"When in doubt, throw it out!" is popular advice for what to do with food that's been sitting in the refrigerator. Is the food spoiled, or can it be safely eaten? Tasting the food is…
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides for the popular election of each state's senators. Prior to the amendment (from 1913), the state legislatures chose United…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: GiardinieraGiardiniera is an Italian or Italian-American relish of pickled vegetables in vinegar or oil. Common vegetables in the Italian version, also called…
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is a saying with classical Roman roots, but was popularized in English in T. H. Bayly's 1835 poem, "Isle of Beauty." "Absinthe…
"Fat is flavor" or "fat equals flavor" (also with the English spelling "fat is flavour" or "fat equals flavour") is a popular food expression for cooking…
"Fatacular" (fat + spectacular) means something or someone who is gloriously, spectacularly in fat. The word could refer to a person or a type of food. Urban Dictionaryfatacular One that…