Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Texas author Boyce House (1896-1961) is best known for his short, best-selling Texas humor books published during World War II, providing a chuckle to Texans and non-Texans everywhere. House also…
The author Mary Lasswell (1905-1994) grew up in Brownsville. In her book I'll Take Texas (1958), she wrote a sentiment that is widely quoted: "I am forced to conclude that God made Texas…
George Carlin (1937-2008) was a stand-up comedian from New York City. Carlin worked in radio in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1959, when he started his comedy career. Perhaps Carlin didn't like Texas.…
William Blakley (1898-1976) was a Texas senator for two incomplete terms, the first in 1957 and the second in 1961. He is remembered today for the quotation: "Texas is neither southern nor…
The "happy hour" was a navy term describing the period for entertainment and refreshments, used during World War I (1918). "Happy hour" became a time period for when bars and…
In 2008, the price of gasoline steadily increased in the United States. In Mexico, the price was lower because of subsidies to support low-wage-earning Mexicans who couldn't afford high gas…
The Original Texas Barbecue King in downtown Los Angeles, California advertises: Barbecue King started out as the brainchild of Rod Daniels, using many of the recipes handed down to him by his…
A "Parkie" (also lower-case "parkie") is a resident of the Park Cities -- Highland Park and Overland Park. The name "Parkie" (sometimes representing affluent…
Southern Methodist University (SMU) is located near the affluent communities of University Park and Highland Park. SMU's undergraduates are sometimes stereotyped as being spoiled rich kids.…
Guajillo's is one of the few Mexican restaurants in San Antonio that is not Tex-Mex. Its slogan since 2000 has been "The Shortcut to Mexico" ("'el atajo al México"),…
The Texas Pie Company in Kyle (south of Austin) has a slice of pie just above its door. On the sign is the Texas Pie Company slogan: "Life's short. Eat more pie!" The Texas Pie…
The Houston Astros baseball team is often called the "'Stros" (or "'stros") for short. A popular cheer is simply "Go 'Stros!" When the Boston Red Sox…
The Brown Bar in Austin makes a drink called the "Austinite" -- chilled vodka (Tito's Handmade Vodka, from Austin) and jalapeño olives. The drink isn't known anywhere else, but…
"Eating Out Is Fun!" is a slogan that the National Restaurant Association first used in 1947. The Texas Restaurant Association used "Eating Out Is Fun!" in 1956 and regularly…
The city of Yoakum holds annual "Land of Leather Days" celebration at the end of February and the town's welcoming sign reads "Land of Leather." Since at least 1991, Yoakum…
"White Harlem" was popularized as a name for Morningside Heights by the comedian George Carlin (1937-2008) in his 1973 comedy album Occupation: Foole. "Harlem" in the name made…
Plano is a suburb of Dallas, rated by Forbes one of the "Top Suburbs To Live Well." Many Plano husbands have high-paying tech jobs and the Plano housewives -- who are perhaps too spoiled…
The New York City Council hasn't had a lot of respect. The mayor of New York City sets the budget and has more power under the city charter. The city council has often been compared to a group…
Red Hook used to be a rough area of Brooklyn filled with longshoremen, but Red Hook is rapidly being gentrified. In 2008, New York City's first IKEA store opened there. The Red Hook cocktail…
The Brooklyn cocktail is not nearly as famous as the Manhattan Cocktail or even the Bronx Cocktail. The standard Brooklyn cocktail contains 1 ounces rye or blended whiskey, 1 ounce dry vermouth, a…