Odessa (summary)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Odessa, TexasOdessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of…
Art/Sculpture
Odessan (inhabitant of Odessa)
"Odessan" is the name of an inhabitant of Odessa, Texas. The name "Odessan" has been cited in print since at least 1915. Wikipedia: Odessa, TexasOdessa is a city in and the…
Off Book
(Oxford English Dictionary)off book, adv. and adj. Theatre and Film. In predicative use: (of an actor) performing without a script, having memorized his or her lines.1981 Shakes. Q. 32 221/2…
Off Topic: Charles Gillett on Conventions
Charles Gillett helped secure the Democratic National Convention for New York City in 1976. This is from the New York Times, February 17, 1974, og. 453:"'American was founded at a…
Off-Off Broadway
"Off-Off Broadway" (or O.O.B.) has really small houses. Did the Caffe Cino start it all, at the end of the 1950s? If not, it was certainly one of the first. Wikipedia: Off-Off…
Off-Track Betting (OTB) & “Go, Baby, Go!”
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, New York had a lot of problems. "The Big Apple" campaign was started to improve its image, but that can do only so much. You need money! Mayor John…
Office Cheapo (Office Depot nickname)
Office Depot is an office products and services retailer that began in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, in 1986. The nickname "Office Cheapo" has been cited in print since at least 1997. Office…
Office Despot (Office Depot nickname)
Office Depot is an office products and services retailer that began in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, in 1986. The nickname "Office Despot" has been cited in print since at least 1995. Home…
Official Bird of New York City (middle finger; pigeon)
New York City does not have an official bird. New York State's official bird is the eastern bluebird. It's sometimes said that the official "bird" of New York City is the middle…
Officialdom
"Officialdom" is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "the domain, sphere, or ways of officials; officials collectively, especially regarded as being inefficient or…
Oh Shoot, Here Again (Occupational Safety & Health Administration or OSHA nickname)
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) was created in the Occupational Health and Safety Act signed into law on December 20, 1970, to issue and enforce standards for workplace…
Ohio: “Where’s Engagement, Ohio?”/“Somewhere between Dayton and Marion.”
An Ohio riddle is about city names is: Q: Where’s Engagement, Ohio?A: Somewhere between Dayton and Marion. (dating and marrying) The joke was posted on the newsgroup alt.fan.dave_barry on…
Oil Bowl (Maskat Oil Bowl at Wichita Falls)
The Oil Bowl began in 1938 as a Texas high school all-star football game. No game was held in 1944. In 1945, the Oil Bowl game became Texas against Oklahoma high school all-stars. The Maskat Shrine…
Oilpocalypse (oil + apocalypse)
"Oilpocalypse" (oil + apocalypse) can mean when the price of oil goes wildly up or down, or when there's a large oil spill. "Trust me, when the Oilpocalypse comes, I'll…
OJ (orange juice)
"OJ" for "orange juice" is now widely known, but it started as soda jerk slang. "'OJ' is orange juice" was printed in an Associated Press story in February…
OK-to-beer-fest (Oktoberfest)
"OK to beer fest" is a pun on "Oktoberfest" that has been printed on several images. "Oktobeerfest" (or "Okto-beer-fest") has been printed on many images.…
Oklahoma Guarantee
An "Oklahoma gurantee" isn't much of a guarantee. The term probably began with Oklahoma used car dealers offering shady "guarantees" for their used cars. An "Oklahoma…
Oklahoma Oysters
An "Oklahoma oyster" is a regional term for a "mountain oyster" or "prairie oyster." The "oysters" are the testicles of an animal. Google BooksYou All Spoken…
Oklahoma: Diet Texas (nickname)
The state of Oklahoma has been infrequently dubbed "Diet Texas" (the state of Texas on a diet). McSweeney's published on July 27, 2006: "Oklahoma isn’t the Midwest. Oklahoma…
Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: OkonomiyakiOkonomiyaki (お好み焼き o-konomi-yaki) is a Japanese savory pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word…