Tony Award
The "Tony" award goes annually to Broadway's best. The Broadway theatre award was first given out in 1947. The "Tony" is named after Antoinette Perry (1888-1946),…
Origin of “Gopher” (Minnesota nickname)
Too Stupid for Arby’s (Transportation Security Administration or TSA nickname)
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began in 2001 under the U.S. Department of Transportation; in 2003, TSA was moved to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "Too Stupid for…
Tools of Ignorance (baseball catcher’s equipment)
The "tools of ignorance" are a baseball catcher's equipment, such as the catcher's mask, chest protector and shin guards. 'Tools of ignorance" has been cited in print…
TOOTBLAN (Thrown Out On The Basepaths Like A Nincompoop)
TOOTBLAN (Thrown Out On The Basepaths Like A Nincompoop) was coined on May 7, 2008, by Tony Jewell on his Chicago Cubs baseball blog, Wrigleyville23. Jewell was describing the poor baserunning of…
Tootsie Roll
It's universally accepted that Leo Hirschfield invented the "Tootsie Roll" in New York City in 1896, naming it after his daughter. That might be correct, but I have a few questions.…
Top Banana & Second Banana
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Top Banana"Top Banana" has multiple meanings. . Top Banana is the starring act in a Vaudeville performance. Originally, the phrase "Top…
Top Dog (a boss or leader)
The term "top dog" means to be the boss (or leader), or to be victorious. The term "top dog in the fight" was cited frequently in the early 1860s. "Whether he's top…
Top Dollar
To get "top dollar" on a used car or other item is to get the best price (the most money) for it -- a dollar amount that can't be topped. The term "top dollar" has been…
Top of Texas (Pampa slogan)
The city of Pampa is the second-largest in the Texas Panhandle, located at the top of Texas. In 1937, Pampa hosted a "Top of Texas Fiesta" (or "Top o' Texas Fiesta"). Pampa…
Top Shelf (premium or best quality liquor)
'Top shelf" means "top notch," or something that is premium or high quality. "Top shelf" has been cited in print since the 19th century, but "top shelf" (or…
Toppy
"Toppy" means that a stock (or the stock market) is at or near a "top," so buying is risky and selling might be in order. "Toppy" can be a matter of opinion; one stock…
Torikatsu or Tori Katsu (Chicken Katsu)
"Tonkatsu" is a Japanese dish of deep-fried pork cutlets. The cutlets are coated with panko, a Japanese brand of flaky bread crumbs. Chicken cutlets -- instead of pork -- are often made,…
Tornado Alley
Texas is in the "Tornado Alley" that includes several states. The weather term dates from at least 1948. Wikipedia: Tornado AlleyTornado Alley is a colloquial term most often used in…
Toronto the Good (Toronto, Canada nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Other Toronto nicknames include "Big Smoke," "Broadway North," "Centre of the Universe," "Hogtown," "Hollywood North,"…
Torpedo Sandwich
Entry in progress -- B.P. The long list of the names of sandwiches served on long rolls includes blimpie, bomber, Cuban (medianoche), Dagwood, garibaldi, gondola, grinder, hero, hoagie, Italian,…
Torpedo Soup (Malaysian bull’s penis soup)
"Torpedo soup" (called "sup torpedo" in Malaysian) or "beef torpedo" is a bull's penis soup, and is, supposedly, an aphrodisiac. "How many tourists would…
Tortilla
The tortilla (frm the Spanish word "torta") is used a a wrap for many Tex-Mex foods, such as burritos. The corn tortilla is the traditional one, but there are now flour and wheat…
Tortilla Chip
Tortilla chips are are small, crispy fried wedges of corn tortillas. In 2003, Texas declared "tortilla chips and salsa" to be the official state snack. The snack is often (but not always)…
Tortilla Chips and Salsa (State Snack)
"Tortilla chips and salsa" is the official state snack of Texas. Yes, there is an official state snack of Texas! The combination is an obvious one, but it became popular with commercial…
Tortilla Curtain & Cactus Curtain
After World War II, Winston Churchill declared that an "iron curtain" had descended upon Eastern Europe. Later, there would be a Berlin Wall. The purpose of the iron curtain and the…