Perkatory (percolate + purgatory)
"Perkatory" (percolate + pergatory) is a jocular portmanteau word that has been printed on many coffee mugs. The name "Perkatory Cafe" for a coffeehouse was cited in print in…
Alphebetical for "p"
Permabear (Perma-bear)
A "permabear" (or "perma-bear" or "perma bear") is a person who believe that the stock market will go down -- a "bear market" pessimist or "permanent…
Permabull (Perma-bull)
A "permabull" (or "perma-bull" or "perma bull") is a person who believe that the stock market will go up -- a "bull market" optimist or "permanent…
Permanent Head Damage (“Ph.D.” backronym)
Does studying for a Ph.D. (doctorate) degree cause head damage? The "Ph.D." backronym (back acronym) "Permanent Head Damage" has been cited in print since at least 1991, when it…
Permawrong (Permaright)
"Permabull" has been cited in print since at least 1994 and "permabear" since at least 1995. It's been said that the permabears and permabulls can be "permawrong"…
Permitorium or Permatorium (permit + moratorium)
"Permitorium" (permit + moratorium) was cited twice on October 12, 2010, when U.S. President Barack Obama's administration lifted the almost six-month ban on offshore energy…
Perp Walk
"Perp" means "perpetrator." The New York City "perp walk" is the long walk the perp takes, usually from a vehicle into a building, facing the cameras of the press…
Perrymander or Perrymandering (Governor Rick Perry + gerrymander/gerrymandering)
The term "gerrymander" or "gerrymandering" (after Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry and the salamander) means to reshape the electoral district lines in such a way that it…
Persiastroika (Persia + perestroika)
"Persiastroika" (Persia + perestroika) was used by Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's The Daily Show on September 26, 2013. Stewart was describing Iran (Persia) and its new attempts at…
Pervertico (Politico nickname)
Conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin read a Politico.com political news story, "Mission for anti-Palin movement: Expose her" by Kenneth Vogel, on the air on April 25, 2011. Levin…
Pet Bank
'Pet bank" is a derisive term that was applied to state banks that were selected to receive government deposits in 1833, taking the place of the Second United States Bank that President…
Pet Cat (underrated football player)
NFL football coach Bill Parcells was fond of cats. Parcells would pick out an under-appreciated football player and call him his "pet cat." Parcells was coach of the Dallas Cowboys from…
Pet Rock (gold nickname)
"Pet rocks" were a fad in the 1970, started by advertising executive Gary Dahl. Dahl sold the worthless rocks, along with a joke insruction booklet for handling the "pet." Gary…
Petco Park East or Petco East (Citi Field nickname)
Citi Field is the ballpark for the New York Mets that opened in 2009. Even before it opened, fans noted Citi Field's cavernous dimensions and speculated that it might be a difficult park to…
Peter Funk
A "Peter Funk" was a dishonest salesman or auctioneer. The term is not used today. It was a common term in the 1830s and 1840s and appears to have originated on Pearl Street. Cassell…
Peter Pan Economics (Peter Pan Economy)
J. M. Barrie's character of "Peter Pan" ("the boy who wouldn't grow up") has been featured in novels, stage plays, musicals and films. Peter Pan believes to himself…
Petro Metro (Houston nickname)
The city of Houston has large business interests in the petrochemical industry. 'Petro Metro" (or "Petro-Metro") is an untrademarked and infrequently used Houston nickname.…
Petrodollar
A "petrodollar" (petroleum + dollar) is a United States dollar earned by a country (such as an OPEC country) in the sale of its petroleum exports to another country. Georgetown University…
Petrogold
"Petrodollar" has been cited in print since 1973; "petrogold" has been cited in print since at least 2008. The "petrogold" term was popularized on the blog Zero Hedge…
Petroplex (Midland/Odessa nickname)
"Petroplex" is an imitation of "Metroplex" (Dallas/Fort Worth, trademarked from January 1972). The west Texas cities of Midland and Odessa -- where petroleum is the most…