Jitterbug (Jitter Bug)
Entry in progress -- B.P.
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health
Jo Jo Potatoes (JoJo Potatoes)
"Jo Jo potatoes" (or "Jo-Jo potatoes" or "JoJo potatoes" or "JoJos," also lower-case "jojos") are potato wedges. They are large unpeeled wedges of…
Job Lock (Joblock)
"Job lock" (also written as "job-lock" and "joblock") is the condition where someone is locked into a job that he or she might otherwise want to leave. One reason for…
Jobber (job + truther; a jobs number conspiracy theorist)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes employment statistics every month, but BLS critics have claimed that it often uses methods (such as not counting people who have given up looking for…
Jobsolete (job + obsolete)
"Jobsolete" (job + obsolete) describes a job, worker or company that is obsolete. "Workers should be able to use technology to their advantage, without fearing that it will make them…
Jock Cosplay (fans wearing sports jerseys)
Many sports fans wear a jersey of their favorite player. This has been called "jock cosplay" or "sports cosplay." "RT @bellawonder: Football fans who wear jerseys: sports…
Jock Tax
A player for the New York Yankees who lives in New York CIty, for example, pays New York taxes. However, when the Yankees visit Chicago to play the White Sox, that player might be liable for…
Jockularity (jock + jocularity)
"Jockularity" (jock + jocularity) is humor involving sports jocks (athletes). "Or to create a new word, they did not accept their stereotyped role (the dumb athlete -- ed.) with…
Joe Bag of Donuts (Joe Bag o’ Donuts)
"Joe(y) Bag a/o'/of Donuts/Doughnuts" is a name for the average citizen, similar to "Joe Sixpack." "Let some ordinary citizen -- some Joe Bag-a-donuts" was…
Joe Citizen or John Citizen (Jane Citizen)
"Joe Citizen" or "John Citizen" (also "Jane Citizen") is a generic name for a citizen. "John Citizen" is cited in print since 1919 and "Joe…
Joe College
"Joe College" is a college boy. The term was first used to a college-age boy who devotes much time to extra curricular activities; later use of "Joe College" has placed less…
Joe Doakes
"Joe Doakes" is a name for an anonymous person, like "John Doe" or "John Q. Citizen." "Joe Doakes" supposedly is a circus name that originated with P. T.…
Joe Frogger (cookie)
"Joe Froggers" are molasses cookies that are a specialty of Marblehead, Massachusetts. According to the legend, a Revolutionary War patriot named Joseph Brown (called "Uncle…
Joe O’Malley (Irish coffee)
"Joe O'Malley" is sometimes given as the lunch counter slang for "Irish coffee." However, Irish coffee became popular in the late 1940s and 1950s -- at the tail end of the…
Joe Sixpack (Jane Sixpack)
"Joe Sixpack" (also "Joe Six-pack" or "Joe Six Pack") is a name for the average Joe -- someone who works hard and enjoys a six-pack of beer. According to William…
Joe Taxpayer or John Taxpayer (Jane Taxpayer)
"Joe Taxpayer" or "John Taxpayer" (also "Jane Taxpayer") is a generic name for a citizen who pays taxes. "John Taxpayer" is cited in print since 1920 and…
Joe Voter or John Voter (Jane Voter)
"Joe Voter” or “John Voter” (also “Jane Voter") is a generic name for a voter. "John J. and Mary Jane Voter" was cited in print in 1926. "John Voter" was cited…
John Chinaman (John Confucius)
"John Chinaman" is a term used to describe someone of Chinese descent that was popular in the 19th century. "John Chinaman" was cited in print in 1826 and "John…
John Q. Public (Jane Q. Public)
"John Q. Public" is a name for the average citizen. "John Public" has been cited in print since at least 1920. "John Q. Public" has been cited in print since 1922,…
Johnny Pump
A "Johnny Pump" is a fire hydrant. It's a name that I don't hear much anymore. I found it first in the following novel, which is full of "classic" New York speech.…