First “Big Apple” citation: May 3, 1921
Gerald Cohen found the first "Big Apple" in a John J. Fitz Gerald horseracing column. From the New York Morning Telegraph, May 3, 1921, page 9, column 3: J. P. Smith, with Tippity Witchet…
Bronx Cheer
The "Bronx cheer" is associated with the New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The first two citations below probably don't apply, but possibly indicate that the…
Hero Sandwich
Hoagie, Sub, Grinder -- there are many regional sandwich names. New Yorkers have a "hero." The Italian sandwich -- before it was called a "hero" -- was popularized in the 1890s…
Thoity Thoid and Thoid (33rd Street and Third Avenue)
"Thoity Thoid and Thoid" (33rd Street and Third Avenue) is a quintessential example of "New Yorkese," but the phrase has not been historically recorded. This is from page 70 of…
Capital of the World
New York ity was popularly called the "Capital of the World" following World War II and the introduction of the United Nations. Former mayor Rudy Giuliani used this nickname far more…
Coney Island Chicken (hot dog)
"Coney Island chicken" has been a slang term for a "hot dog" since at least 1920. 20 July 1920, New York (NY) Times, p. XX2:Hot Dog Is Having Its Day:World's Most Popular…
“Go fight city hall” (proverb)
"Go fight city hall" or "You can't fight city hall" means to take on the powerful -- usually, a thankless and a futile task. "City hall" means the city…
Ground Zero
After the terrorism of September 11, 2001, the location of the World Trade Center was quickly and popularly called "Ground Zero." This term was coined many years before--after the atom…
Peacock Alley
If you're staying at the Waldorf, perhaps this bit of "alley" history will prove interesting. OSCAR OF THE WALDORFby Karl SchriftgiesserNew York: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc.1943Pg.…
Big Apple Timeline
1885: From the MAIL AND EXPRESS (NY), 26 September 1885, pg. 5, col. 4: (Big Apple drawing—ed.)This is an apple, large and round.At the top of the barrel always found.(Small Apple…
New Yorker (inhabitant of New York)
George Washington (1732-1799) is often -- incorrectly -- given credit for coining "New Yorker": "Although Washington lived in New York only briefly, the earliest known use of the…
Finest, Bravest, Strongest, Boldest, Best, Proudest (New York City superlatives)
The departments of New York City have several famous superlative nicknames: FINEST—Police Department (NYPD)BRAVEST—Fire Department (FDNY)STRONGEST—Sanitation Department…
Audrey Munson (New York’s “Civic Fame” and “Miss Manhattan,” San Francisco’s “World’s Fair Girl”)
Audrey Munson photo links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Munsonhttp://jschumacher.typepad.com/audrey_munson/http://www.remnantsofadream.com/pages/appendix_6.htmlGoogle Images Audrey Munson…
“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” (joke)
"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" is a question visitors often ask. Old-time New Yorkers can provide the punchline: "Practice!" The joke has been cited in print since 1955.…
“Like Grand Central Station” (congested with people)
New York City's Grand Central Terminal (often called "Grand Central Station") is very congested during rush hour. Something that is "like Grand Central station" is very…
It’s A Nice Place to Visit, But I Wouldn’t Want to Live There
Actually, people DO want to live here. Have you seen New York real estate prices lately?I've done the only work on this phrase, most often applied to New York City but sometimes to other…
Tin Pan Alley (West 28th Street)
"Tin Pan Alley" was the name of the music publishing area of Manhattan on 28th Street, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. Music publishers came to the area in the 1880s and began to leave…
Subway Series (Subway World Series)
When the New York Yankees play the New York Giants, or the Brooklyn Dodgers, or now the New York Mets in a baseball World Series, it's called a "Subway Series." The first three…
Bronx Bombers (New York Yankees nickname)
"Bronx Bombers" is a popular nickname of the New York Yankees baseball team. The Yankees originally played in Manhattan in 1903, but opened Yankee Stadium in the Bronx in 1923.…
Yankees (American League baseball team)
The New York "Yankees" American League baseball team did not originally have that name. "Yankee" has meant an American, or, more specifically, someone from New England. The 1902…