“Me fail English? That’s unpossible!”
"Unpossible" is often used as a joke that a poor English speaker uses for "impossible." Judge's Library, a New York City humor magazine, published in 1909: English As She…
Archive for /P28900
“Where did you find a Chinese waiter who speaks Yiddish?” (Jewish restaurant joke)
A classic Jewish deli joke involves a Chinese waiter who speaks perfect Yiddish. An amazed customer asks the owner how he managed to find such an employee. "Shhh!" says the owner.…
Chowmeinerie or Chowmeinery (a Chinese restaurant)
Chinese restaurants serving chow mein used to crowd Broadway around Times Square. "Chowmeinerie" was cited in G. D. Seymour's New York City newspaper column in January 1929.…
Spaghetteria (restaurant serving spaghetti)
A "spaghetteria" is an eating establishment that serves spaghetti. The term might have started in New York City. The New York (NY) Evening Post stated in 1928: "The cafeteria started…
Chow Mein Street (Broadway)
Chinese restaurants serving chow mein used to crowd Broadway around Times Square. "Chow-Mein Street" (a street where Chinese people live) was cited in the New York City humor magazine…
WiNo (Williamsburg North)
"SoHo Is SoOver, New Yorkers Are Moving to WiNo and Rambo" by Corinne Ramey appeared in The Wall Street Journal on September 10, 2015. It explained that "WiNo" stands for…
“Form follows finance” (architecture adage)
"Form (ever) follows function" is the famous axiom of Chicago-based architect Louis Sullivan (1856-1924). Form Follows Finance: Skyscrapers and Skylines in New York and Chicago (1995) by…
Goulash Alley or Goulash Avenue (Second Avenue, between 79th and 86th Streets)
"Goulash Avenue" in the 1890 and early 1900s was located in Manhattan's East Village, around East Houston Street and Second Avenue. “Goulash avenue, a name under which the lower…
Goulash Avenue (Houston Street)
Manhattan's East Village had a large Hungarian population by 1900. "Goulasch Avenue, by the way, is the local title for the Hungarian part of East Houston Street," wrote the New York…
PLG or Prospect Lefferts Gardens (Prospect Park + Lefferts Manor + Brooklyn Botanic Garden)
Prospect Lefferts Gardens (PLG) is a Brooklyn neighborhood name formed from Prospect Park, Lefferts Manor and Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The Prospect Lefferts Gardens Neighborhood Association (PLGNA)…
“I get paid to be nice at work. Not sure why family and friends expect that for free”
"I get paid to be nice at work. Not sure why family and friends expect that for free" is a jocular line that has been printed on ecards. "I get paid to be nice to people at work. So…
“Stop! Or I’ll say stop again!” (British policeman or unarmed officer joke)
"Stop, or I'll shoot!" is a classic line of what an armed police officer shouts at a suspect. American comedian Robin Williams (1951-2014) said in Robin Williams: An Evening at the…
“Ex-presidents are like Chinese vases—beautiful, valuable, and near-useless”
An antique Chinese vase is delicate and valuable, but it's too expensive to put flowers in it. Former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos said in 2007 that "ex-presidents are like antique…
“The difference between a democracy and a people’s democracy” (joke)
Austrian Socialist leader Bruno Pittermann (1905-1983) said in 1961: "The difference between a democracy and a 'people's democracy' is the difference between a jacket and a…
U’ve Been Sacked (UBS nickname)
UBS (originally the Union Bank of Switzerland) is one of the world's largest banks and has several branches in Manhattan. When Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss Bank Corporation announced a…
Seven Sisters’ Row (West 25th Street)
"Sisters' Row" (also called "Seven Sisters' Row) was located on West 25th Street, near Seventh Avenue, and was known for its houses of prostitution. As described in the…
“Never buy a Friday high” (“Never sell a Friday low”)
"Never buy a Friday high" and "Never sell a Friday low" are popular adages at DailyFX. The trends are often old news and reverse on Monday. "Price & Time: Never Buy a…
“The first rule of rescuing is don’t become the second victim”
"Don't become the second victim" has been called the first rule of rescuing. The rescuer shouldn't risk his or her life in the rescue. "Don't become the second…
“If I could sell just one…” (”$30,000 pencil” sales joke)
A popular sales story is told about a beggar selling pencils on a sidewalk -- for $30,000 a pencil. A man walks buy and tells him that no one will buy a pencil for that price. "Probably…
Marble Row (Fifth Avenue, between 57th and 58th Streets)
"Marble Row" was the row of white marble mansions on Fifth Avenue, between 57th and 58th Streets in Manhattan. Mary Mason Jones, daughter of John Mason (president of the Chemical National…