Berkeley-on-the-Brazos (UT-Austin nickname)
The University of Texas at Austin is more liberal than the rest of the state of Texas, and some have compared UT-Austin to the liberal institution of the University of California at Berkeley.…
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health
Bernanke Put
The "Bernanke put" is a put option named after Ben Bernanke, member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 2002 to 2005 and chairman of the Federal Reserve from 2006…
Besos (Mexican pastry “kisses”)
"Besos" ("kisses") are Mexican sweet bread ("pan dulce") especially popular on holidays such as Valentine's Day. A "beso" consists of two round domes…
Bespoke Vegetables
"Bespoke" usually refers to an item of clothing made to a customer's specifications, such as "bespoke tailoring." A news article on Bloomberg.com in August 2013, "How…
Best Escape Anyone Can Have (“beach” backronym)
"Best Escape Anyone Can Have" is a backronym (back acronym) of the word "beach" that has been printed on many images. "B.E.A.C.H. = Best Escape Anyone Can Have" was…
Best Little Town in Two States (Anthony, TX & Anthony, NM)
The towns of Anthony, Texas and Anthony, New Mexico go be the slogan "The Best Little Town in Two States." The town (or towns) about 16 miles north of El Paso reportedly had the slogan on…
Best Location in the Nation
From "Cleveland Caught in Long Decline" in the New York Times, 13 November 1978, pg. 1, cols.2-3: The best location in the nation" was the way the Cleveland Electric Illuminating…
Bet a Big Apple
People began betting a big (red) apple since at least 1839. A "big apple" was a prized fruit and a popular non-monetary reward. Why didn't they bet a big banana? Why not a big…
Betsy Gotbaum and the fictional “Big Apple whores”
Betsy Gotbaum was elected Public Advocate in 2001. In 2004, I created this website for the Big Apple Fest. I had told the Big Apple Fest directors that the "whore theory" was a freely…
Better Quickly Exit (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway or BQE nickname)
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is known to many for its traffic delays. The BQE has been called "Better Quickly Exit" by at least 2009. The nickname probably originated with traffic…
Beverly Hills of the East Coast (Malba, Queens)
Malba is a neighborhood near the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and considered part of Whitestone, Queens. The large homes in Malba have drawn frequent comparisons to Beverly Hills, California. Malba was…
Bewitching Broker (female stockbroker)
The sisters Victoria Claflin Woodhull (1838-1927) and Tennessee Celeste Claflin (1844-1923) formed the Wall Street firm of Woodhull, Claflin & Company in 1870. The female financial pioneers…
BFD (Black Friday Deal)
"BFD" usually stands for "Big Fucking Deal." A "Black Friday" version of "BFD" is "Black Friday Deal." "Ha -- local indie computer place has…
BGT Sandwich (bacon, goat cheese and tomato)
The "BGT" (bacon, goat cheese and tomato) sandwich is a variation of the "BLT" (bacon, lettuce and tomato) sandwich. The BGT panini sandwich appears to have been first served at…
Bi-coastal (NY & LA)
In the 1970s, people in the entertainment industry who lived and/or worked in both New York City and Los Angeles referred to themselves as "bi-coastal" (or "bicoastal"). The…
Bialy
Remember the character of Max Bialystok in The Producers? The "bialy" was probably named in New York City. Its origins are Bialystok, Poland, but it was Polish immigrants in New York City…
Bibimbap
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: BibimbapBibimbap (/ˈbiːbɪmbæp/ BEE-bim-bap, from Korean bibimbap [pi.bim.p͈ap̚], literally "mixed rice"), sometimes romanized as bi bim bap or…
BIC (Bronx Irish Catholic)
BIC is a ballpoint pen that was introduced in 1950. In the 1950s and 1960s, "B.I.C." (usually pronounced as letters and not a word) stood for "Bronx Irish Catholic."…
Bicycle “Dooring”
A cyclist gets "doored" when riding down the street and a vehicle (usually parked) suddenly opens a door and obstructs the bike path. The term appears to have been first used in San…
Bicycle Messenger
Bicycle messengers used to be more numerous than they are today. Blame the cell phone and the internet. It appears that this did not originate in New York City. (Oxford English Dictionary)bicycle…