Six-Year Itch
The "seven-year itch" is when a spouse loses interest with a marriage partner; The Seven Year Itch was a 1952 play by George Axelrod and a 1955 movie starring Marilyn Monroe. The…
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health
Sixth Borough (Yonkers, Scarsdale, Fort Lee, Jersey City, Hoboken, Nassau County, Rockland County)
New York City has five boroughs. The consolidation into the borough system took effect on January 1, 1898. Yonkers (in Westchester County) was soon proposed to be New York's sixth borough.…
Skank of America (Bank of America nickname)
Bank of America is one of the Big Four of America's banks (along with Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo). Critics of Bank of America have given it the unflattering nickname of…
Skee-Ball
Remember Skee-Ball? From Coney Island, right? Maybe you've played it recently at a street fair? Actually, the game comes from Philadelphia, but that doesn't mean that Coney Island…
Skelly (or skelsy, skellzies, scully, tops, caps)
"Skelly" is an old New York City game. There is a good entry for it in the Dictionary of American Regional English, but there are earlier citations to be found. It is said that the game…
Skin in the Game
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Skin in the game (phrase)To have "skin in the game" is to have incurred monetary risk by being invested in achieving a goal. In the phrase,…
Skinny Nut (pistachio nickname)
Pistachio nuts were a common food in what is now northeastern Iraq since at least 6750 B.C. The pistachio has been promoted as the "skinny nut" since at least January 2009. The book The…
Skunk Egg (onion)
"Skunk eggs" were what cowboys called onions. The term "skunk egg" appears in many collections of cowboy lingo after 1950, but pre-1950 citations are rare. 10 May 1943, Ogden…
Skycap
The word "skycap," like "scofflaw," entered the language as a contest winner. Willie Wainwright, of New Orleans, won $100 in 1940 for his suggestion of "skycap" for…
Skyscraper
"Skyscraper" was the name of a horse in the late 1700s. "Skyscraper" also meant a large, triangular sky-sail in the late 1700s. In the 1880s, in both Chicago and New York, the…
Skyscraper Curse (Skyscraper Index)
Many cities have a "skyscraper" (tall building) added to the skyline, but experience a downturn in the economy. New York City's Chrysler Building (1930) and Empire State Building…
Skyscraper National Park (Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.)
Novelist Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. called New York City "Skyscraper National Park" in Slapstick, or Lonesome No More (1976). "Skyscraper National Park" is also the title of a music CD…
Skyscraper 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,…
Skyscraper-Harlem Cycling Classic
The Skyscraper-Harlem Cycling Classic takes place in June in Marcus Garvey Park. It started in the 1970s and is billed as "New York City's oldest criterium."…
Skyville (Schuylerville, Bronx)
Schuylerville is a middle-class neighborhood in the East Bronx. The Wikipedia entry states that Schuylerville has been nicknamed "Skyville," but this nickname appears only infrequently in…
Slacker Capital of the World (Austin nickname)
Richard Linklater's 1991 film Slacker showed one day in the life of the offbeat characters of Austin, Texas. A "slacker" is someone who does not follow the corporate track with his…
Sladeo (Slalom + Rodeo)
"Sladeo" is a San Marcos event that combines slalom racing and rodeo in paddling (kayaking and canoeing). The name "sladeo" has not yet been used outside the San Marcos event.…
Slam Gate (agent-operated gate, or AOG)
One subway entrance/exit that is not a turnstile is the "slam gate" or "agent-operated gate" (AOG). It's an easier entrance/exit for the handicapped and others. (Google…
Slamboni (Zamboni-like machine for U.S. Open tennis)
Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens, is the site of the tennis U.S. Open. Rain delays hampered the 2003 U.S. Open, so the stadium developed the "Slamboni" machine -- similar…
Slang Jang (Slangjang)
"Slang Jang" (or "slangjang") is a dish from Honey Grove in Northeast Texas. The ingredients of this hot pepper relish vary, but tend to include oysters, onions, pickles,…