Sallie Mae (Student Loan Marketing Association)
Sallie Mae signifies the Student Loan Marketing Association (SLM Corporation). The Student Loan Marketing Association was created in 1972, but "Sally Mae" has been cited in print since at…
Sports/Games
Sally Soccer-mom
A "soccer mom" is a mother of a child who plays soccer; the term has been cited in print since at least 1973. Soccer moms became a much-talked-about demographic in the 1996 U.S.…
Salsa Picante (Picante Sauce)
Salsa Picante (or Picante Sauce, or simply "hot sauce") was popularlized just after World War II, when David Pace introduced his Picante Sauce in 1947. Mexicans had been making "hot…
Salsa Ranchera (Ranch Sauce)
Salsa ranchera (ranch sauce) contains tomatoes, chiles, onions, salt and usually a few other ingredients. The salsa goes by other names as well, even simply "salsa." Gourmet SleuthSalsa…
Salsa Verde
Salsa verde is simply "green sauce." The Mexican salsa verde that's popular in Tex-Mex restaurants usually contains hot green chiles, tomatillos, onion, garlic, salt and vinegar.…
Salt Water Taffy
"Salt water taffy" supposedly originated by accident in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1883. Salt water taffy was served at other seaside places (such as Coney Island), but it remains an…
Saltwater Heaven (Aransas Pass nickname)
"Saltwater Heaven" is the nickname of Aransas Pass on the Gulf Coast. Aransas Pass encourages anglers to fish for speckled trout, redfish, flounder, black drum, or sheepshead in the bay.…
Salty Dog (cocktail)
A "Salty Dog" is a cocktail of gin (or vodka) and grapefruit juice, served in a glass with a salted rim. It is not known who invented the drink or where, but a 1947 citation of…
Salugi (or Saloogie)
"Salugi" (or "saluggi" or "saloogie") was a New York children's game of "keep away" that was popular in the 1950s. The origin of the name is unknown.…
Salute to Israel
Many "salutes to Israel" occurred in 1948 with the formation of the Jewish state. The programs held in New York City were particularly important in the formation of the modern state of…
Sam ‘n’ Ella (salmonella)
Salmonella (bacteria) has nothing to do with salmon (a fish) or anyone named Ella, but there are jokes. "I heard that Ella Fitzgerald and Sammy Davis Jr. are buying out the Jewel Food Store…
Sam and Ella (salmonella)
Salmonella (bacteria) has nothing to do with salmon (a fish) or anyone named Ella, but there are jokes. "I heard that Ella Fitzgerald and Sammy Davis Jr. are buying out the Jewel Food Store…
Sam Hill
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Sam Hill (euphemism)Sam Hill is an American English slang phrase, a euphemism for "the devil" or "hell" personified (as in, "What in…
Sam Houston White Cake
The Sam Houston White Cake may have been popularized by the Imperial Sugar Company (Sugar Land, TX) on its products and in its recipe books. The cake is seldom served today. No one knows if Sam…
Sam Ward (cocktail)
Entry in progress -- B.P. 21 May 1893, Cleveland (OH) Plain Dealer, pg. 17, col. 2:THE MANHATTAN.The Greatest of American Democratic Clubs.The Manhattan club at Fifth avenue and Thirty-fourth…
Sam, Mike, Will (strongside, middle and weakside linebacker nicknames)
Sam (strongside linebacker), Mike (middle linebacker) and Will (weakside linebacker) are football position nicknames in the 4-3 defense. Tom Landry (1924-2000), the New York Giants defensive…
Sammy Scheme (Uncle Sam + Ponzi Scheme)
Financial manager and Pacific Investment Management (PIMCO) co-founder William H. Gross coined the name "Sammy scheme" ("Uncle Sam" + Ponzi scheme) in PIMCO's November 2010…
San Angeloan (inhabitant of San Angelo)
"San Angeloan” is the name of an inhabitant of San Angelo, Texas. The name “San Angeloan” has been cited in print since at least 1887. Wikipedia: San Angelo, TexasSan Angelo ( /sæn…
San Anto (“San Antonio” in Chicano slang)
"San Anto" means "San Antonio" in Chicano slang. This slang (called "Caló") was popular with Mexican-Americans in the 1970s, when several citations of "San…
San Antone (San Antonio)
San Antonio has been called "San Antone" from at least the 1840s. 7 May 1840, Army and Navy Chronicle, "Texian Navy," pg. 296:Schooners:San JacintoSan BernardSan Antone January…