Rathole (“money down the rathole”)
To throw or to pour something "down a/the rathole" means to put it in an endless space (where lots of rats enter and leave). "Money down a/the rathole" is money wasted, not to…
Time/Weather
Rats With Antlers (deer nickname)
Texas has a large deer population. Many Texans view deer as a nuisance, calling them "rats with antlers." John McPhee of The New Yorker wrote an essay for the November 25, 1984 issue,…
Rattlesnake Code (Rattlesnake’s Code)
The "cowboy code" was an unwritten code of conduct for the cowboy, a way to treat everyone fairly and honestly. For gunslingers, there was also a "rattlesnake's code." The…
Raw Dog Oxygen (breathing without a face mask)
"Raw dog" usually means sexual intercourse without a condom. The 2020 COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in requirements to wear face masks, and "raw dog oxygen" (or…
Ray’s Pizza (started by Ralph)
Many pizza places have "Ray" in the name. It all began in 1959 with Ray's Pizza at 27 Prince Street. http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/ny432.htmlRays Pizza, 1986-2005 New York…
Razzleberry Pie
"Razzleberry pie" was trademarked by Marie Callender's restaurants, with a "first use" date of 1998. Marie Callender's razzleberry pie is made with raspberries and…
Re-Re-Elect (third term election)
A politician is sometimes "elected" to a first term in office, "re-elected" to a second term, and "re-re-elected" to a third time. New York City's two-term mayor…
Read-In
A "read-in" (or "read in") protest takes its inspiration from the 1960s civil rights "sit-in" protests. "Read-ins" are usually held to protest cuts in a…
Readathon
A "readathon" (reading + marathon) is when there is a long session of reading; there may be many readers and there may be just one book (such as the Bible, a novel, a dictionary or…
Real Estatesman (Austin American-Statesman nickname)
The Austin American-Statesman is the daily newspaper for the capital city of Austin. The Democratic Statesman dates back to 1871, and today's newspaper is called "The Statesman" for…
Real Texas Baseball (Texas Rangers slogan)
"Real Texas Baseball" is a slogan of the Texas Rangers that was introduced in February and March 2014. Most people liked the slogan, but others questioned it. "So 'Real Texas…
Real. East Texas. Living. (Longview slogan)
"Real. East Texas. Living." was voted (in 2007) the official slogan of the city of Longview in East Texas. A marketing company had chosen the slogan "pure and simple," but it…
Realize It Can Happen (“rich” backronym)
"Realize It Can Happen" is sometimes given as a backronym (back acronym) for the word "rich." "Keep driving toward your dreams and live that #RICH (Realize It Can Happen)…
Realville (a town in the real world)
"Realville" isn't any actual city or town, but it's an expression for a place that exists "in the real world" and has real world problems. Politicians and economists…
Rears, Sawbuck & Co. (Sears, Roebuck and Company nickname)
The department store chain Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded in 1893, has had several nicknames. "Rears, Sawbuck & Co." was printed in the Jamestown (ND) Weekly Alert on May 11,…
Rears, Sobuck & Co. (Sears, Roebuck and Company nickname)
The department store chain Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded in 1893, has had several nicknames. "Rears, Sawbuck & Co." was printed in the Jamestown (ND) Weekly Alert on May 11,…
Reasonoid (Reason Magazine reader nickname)
The libertarian Reason monthly magazine started a "Hit & Run" blog in 2002. Reason readers have been called "Reasonoids" since at least 2004. The nickname…
Rebalancing Day (Rebal Day)
A "rebalancing day" (or "rebalance day" or "rebal day") might occur on the last day of trading in a quarter, such as March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31…
Recession Special (reduced-price food)
Gray's Papaya began in 1973 at Broadway and West 72nd Street, offering hot dogs and papaya juice just like the older Papaya King. In the late 1980s or early 1990s, Gray's began offering a…
Recessipe (recession recipe)
The economic recession of 2008-2009 caused many people to choose simpler, less expensive meals. The word "recessipe" (recession recipe) was popularized in February and March 2009. A blog…