Ten Gallon Hat
A "ten gallon hat" cannot hold ten gallons of water. The "gallon" term is said to come from the Spanish word galon, a decorative braid worn on the hat. "Gallon hats"…
Knish Alley
"Knish Alley" is a name for the Jewish Lower East Side, specifically Second Avenue. It was also called the "Yiddish Rialto" because Yiddish actors performed there and ate at the…
“Thermopylae had her messenger of defeat, but the Alamo had none”
"Thermopylae had her messenger of defeat, but the Alamo had none." The comparison of the events of the Alamo (1836) to the Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.) occurred as early as 1836. This…
Chicken Ranch (or, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas)
The La Grange, Texas "chicken ranch" was a house of prostitution since about the 1840s; it closed in 1973. The story was fictionalized into the 1978 Broadway musical and 1982 movie…
Armadillo Droppings (praline candy)
"Armadillo Droppings" is the name of a praline candy from the Armadillo Candy Co. Lammes Candies has "Choc'Adillos" made from almonds, but "Armadillo Droppings"…
“I’m from Texas. What country are you from?”
"I'm from Texas. What country are you from?" has appeared on bumper stickers since the 1990s. Texas used to be a country; some people believe it still is. StickerZombie.comI'M…
Texas Punch
There is no one drink recipe for "Texas Punch" that can be called standard. There exists also a "Lone Star Punch," made with Lone Star Beer. Cooks.comTEXAS PUNCH 4 c. sugar6 c.…
Lone Star Punch
Lone Star Punch is an original concoction of Hill Country, a barbecue restaurant located on West 26th Street in New York City. Lone Star Punch contains Lone Star Beer and vodka, plus lemon juice…
“Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I’ll win a war!” (General George S. Patton quote?)
World War II General George S. Patton is often quoted as saying: "Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a…
Texas Quiche
There are several recipes for "Texas quiche," but no recipe appears to be standard. Some recipes add chili peppers; others use simply a deeper pie dish. Cooks.comTEXAS QUICHE 1 can…
Bon Appetex
The Austin Land & Cattle Company restaurant tells its customers: "Bon Appetex!" This Texas version of "bon appétit" hasn't spread to other Texas restaurants, however.…
West Texas Rain (a sandstorm)
A sandstorm (or dust storm) has been called "West Texas rain." The humorous bit of slang is not based on fact; it rains in West Texas much more often than you'll see a sandstorm.…
“Everybody invited and nobody slighted!”
"Everybody invited and nobody slighted!" is the old-time invitation to a country dance. The phrase's origin is unknown, but it's been in use since at least the 1920s. 14 July…
“There’s nothing between Amarillo and the North Pole except a barbed wire fence”
It's cold up north in Amarillo, but "There's nothing between Amarillo and the North Pole except a barbed wire fence" is an exaggeration. The saying was considered old as early…
“Texans barbecue everything except ice cream”
Rosemary Kent (author of the 1981 book The Genuine Texas Handbook) has been quoted as saying that Texans barbecue "everything except ice cream." It's not known where this phrase…
Texecution (Texecuted)
There are legal executions of criminals in Texas. Some people have used the term "Texecution" ("Texas" + "execution") or "Texecuted" ("Texas" +…
“If it grows, it will stick you; If it crawls, it will bite you”
"If it grows, it will stick you; if it crawls, it will bite you" has appeared on internet joke lists from the early 2000s. The saying is attributed to the Texas way of life, but the…
Longhorns (chocolate, pecan and caramel candies)
"Longhorns" is the trademarked name of the chocolate, pecan and caramel candies by Lammes Candies. Lammes has been around since 1885; Longhorns were trademarked from since 1984.…
“Harelips the governor” (“hare-lips the governor”)
"I don't care if it harelips the governor" (or "hare-lips the governor") means the same as "come hell or high water." The phrase (also popularly used in to…
“You can’t swing a dead cat in Austin without hitting a musician”
Austin has been called the Live Music Capital of the World. It's been said that "you can't swing a dead cat in Austin without hitting a musician." "Swing a dead cat"…