De-Portland (Portland nickname)
The city of Portland acquired the nickname "De-Portland" or "Deportland" ("deport-land") in 2000 when several news articles stated that the Portland International…
Alphebetical for "d"
Dead Cat Bounce
A "dead cat bounce" is a stock market term for a fake (or short-lived) economic recovery. Cat lore has it that if you throw a cat from any height, the cat will always land on its feet. In…
Dead End Kids
The wonderful New York play Dead End (1935) started it all. It was made into a film in 1937, and the "Dead End Kids" were on their way to many films and national recognition. Depending on…
Dead Hook (Red Hook)
Red Hook was an industrial dock area of Brooklyn, but it suffered from years of disuse in the second half of the 20th century. In the 2000s, gentrification came to Red Hook in the form of a new…
Dead Line
The "deadline" started as a Civil War term, then became the police line at Fulton Street, and then became the police line at Fourteenth Street. The newspaper use of "deadline"…
Dead Man’s Curve
"Dead Man's Curve" is more popularly known today as a song by Jan and Dean, but it was the corner of 14th Street and Broadway. Some find it irony that a statue of Gandhi now stands…
Dead Man’s Hand
The "dead man's hand" is a two-pair poker hand that also appears in Texas hold 'em. The hand is widely believed to be aces and eights, but early citations show jacks and eights,…
Dead Meat (to be a loser or in serious trouble)
Someone is "dead meat" if that person is a sure loser (in a sports match against a very formidable opponent, for example) or if that person is in very serious trouble (of losing a job or…
Dead Parrot Economy
The British comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus performed its now-famous "Dead Parrot Sketch" in 1969 and many times after that. A customer enters a pet shop to get a refund…
Dead President (paper money)
U.S. currency has portraits of presidents (and statesmen) on paper money and coins. The one-dollar bill has George Washington; the two-dollar bill has Thomas Jefferson; the five-dollar bill has…
Dead Tree Edition
A "dead tree edition" is a paper copy (such as a newspaper, magazine or book), as opposed to an edition that's online and doesn't require paper. "Dead tree edition"…
Dead Tree Media
"Dead tree edition" (cited since 1995) is the paper copy of a newspaper, magazine or book. Newspapers and magazines have been dubbed the "dead tree media" (or "dead-tree…
Deadbeat (Dead Beat)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Free Merriam-Webster DictionarytDefinition of DEADBEAT1: loafer 2: one who persistently fails to pay personal debts or expenses Examples of DEADBEAT. His friends are just…
Deadbeat (someone who pays a credit balance in full and on time)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Urban DictionarydeadbeatIn creddit card industry lingo a deadbeat is soemone who DOES pay their bills on time and thus makes no profit.Forget the deadbeats, up the…
Deadhead
A "dead head" is someone who doesn't pay. Originally, it probably referred to a train passenger who didn't pay for a ticket, but it soon included nonpaying "customers"…
Deadpan (Dead-pan)
"Dead pan" (also spelled "dead-pan" or "deadpan") is an emotionless (or "dead") face (or "pan"). The expression appears to have become popular in…
Deadstream Media (Dead Stream Media)
"Deadstream media" or "dead stream media" is an unflattering nickname that some have applied to the "mainstream media" (MSM). The "deadstream media" is dead,…
Dear Colleague Letter
A "dear colleague" letter is a letter (or email) addressed "Dear Colleague(s)" or "My Dear Colleague(s)," sent by one member of a legislative body to another member.…
Dear Leader
North Korea's Kim Jong-il has been called "Dear Leader Comrade" (Chinaehanun Jidoja Tongji) since the end of the 1960s. The title of "Dear Leader" has also been applied --…
Death Avenue; Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
"Death Avenue" was the nickname of Eleventh Avenue, from about 1890. It got its name from New York Central train accidents. Previously, Fourth Avenue had been "Death Avenue."…