5th Avenue (candy bar)
"5th Avenue" is the mystery candy bar. As the web discussions that follow describe it, the "5th Avenue" candy bar seems like it's been around forever, but no one seems to…
Food/Drink
9-11 (One Day’s Pay: National Day of Voluntary Service, Charity, Compassion)
9-11-2001 was a national tragedy. Several events are held on the anniversary of that day. One Day's Pay has organized a National Day of Voluntary Service, Charity and Compassion.…
911 (emergency call)
911 is dialed for emergency calls; 311 is for non-emergency calls. The 911 system was introduced in New York City -- and nationwide -- in 1968. In the 1967 phonebook, Fire was "OPERATOR"…
98 Nicknames
The largest selection of New York City nicknames (see the other entries in this Nicknames/Slogans category) can be found in Names and Sobriquets of U.S. Cities and States (second edition 1970) by…
A Crappy Test (“ACT” backronym)
The ACT (originally "American College Testing") is a test that helps students enter college. The ACT test has been given the backronymic (back acronym) nickname "Another Crappy…
A Genuine Texas Town (Rotan slogan)
"A Genuine Texas Town" is the nickname of the small town of Rotan in Fisher County. The slogan appears on T-shirts and mugs. (The other Texas towns are not genuine?) Handbook of Texas…
A great place to hang your hat (Paris, Texas slogan)
The city of Paris, Texas constructed a 65-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower in 1993. A red cowboy hat rests at the top of the tower. Paris has used the slogan "A great place to hang your…
A la Minute
À la minute is a French cooking term meaning "at a minute." Restaurants that prepare food à la minute prepare food when it is ordered, and often such foods are prepared in front of the…
A New Yorker’s View of the World
The famous Saul Steinberg 1976 New Yorker cartoon was called "A View of the World from Ninth Avenue," not "A New Yorker's View of the World." The "view of the…
ABC (“Anyone But the Cowboys”)
The Dallas Cowboys football team has plenty of fans, but also plenty of people who like to root against the team. The "ABC" nickname -- "Anybody But the Cowboys" or "Anyone…
ABC Rule (Anything But Cabernet; Anything But Chardonnay)
Chardonnay became so popular -- to the detriment of other wines -- that some people insisted on ordering "ABC," or "Anything But Chardonnay." "Anything But Cabernet"…
ABCNNBCBS (ABC + CNN + NBC + CBS)
"CNNBCBS (a division of ABC)" was featured on the "Lisa's Wedding" segment of the animated television sitcom The Simpsons, with the airdate March 19, 1995.…
Abilene Distorter-News (Abilene Reporter-News nickname)
The Abilene Reporter-News was founded in 1881, three months after Abilene was founded. "Distorter" is a common newspaper nicknamed for "Reporter," and the paper has been…
Abilenian (inhabitant of Abilene)
"Abilenian" is the name of an inhabitant of Abilene, Texas. The name "Abilenian" has been cited in print since at least 1890. Wikipedia: Abilene, TexasAbilene ( /ˈæbəliːn/…
About the Website and Site Editor
THE BIG APPLE. An etymological dictionary (over 39,000 entries) investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases, specializing in modern slang, neologisms, nicknames,…
Above-way (proposed monorail to complement subway)
John Catsimatidis was running in the Republican primary for New York City mayor in 2013 when he was asked about transportation options. Catsimatiidis came out in favor of a new monorail system,…
Abovetexas (Oklahoma nickname)
The People's Cube blog, on October 18, 2013, posted the satirical story, "Oklahoma to change name to Abovetexas." The term "Oklahoma" is not politically correct, but…
Absolutely Awful or Always Awful (American Airlines nickname)
American Airlines (AA) is a United States airline that was founded in 1930 as American Airways. The AA nickname of "Always Awful" has been cited in print since at least 1991 and…
Absolutely Pathetic (Associated Press or AP nickname)
The Associated Press (AP) is a news agency founded in 1846 and headquartered in New York City. The derogatory AP nickname of "Absolutely Pathetic" has been cited in print since at least…
Absurdistan
Entry in progress -- B.P. "banana republic" Wikipedia: Absurdistan Absurdistan is a term sometimes used to satirically describe a country in which absurdity is the norm, especially in its…