Ritualistic Shame Muzzle (face mask)
The 2020 COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in face mask requirements. Some people who objected to the face masks called them "shame muzzles" and "ritualistic shame…
Time/Weather
River City (Austin nickname)
The city of Austin has always had the Colorado River run through it. However, it wasn't until the 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man (with its "River City" based on Mason City,…
River City (Evansville, Indiana nickname)
Other Evansville nicknames include "Crescent City," "Pocket City," and "Stoplight City." Wikipedia: Evansville, IndianaEvansville is a city in and the county seat of…
River City (San Antonio nickname)
"River City" is one obvious -- but sparsely used until recently -- nickname for the city of San Antonio. The San Antonio River runs through San Antonio, and the River Walk is…
River-to-River Festival
The River-to-River Festival began in 2002. Like the annual Tribeca Film Festival, it's another attempt to revitalize the downtown area after the tragedy of September 11, 2001. 13 May 2002, PR…
Riverdalian (inhabitant of Riverdale, Bronx)
"Riverdalian” is the name of an inhabitant of Riverdale, in the borough of the Bronx. The name “Riverdalian” has been cited in print since at least 1871. . Wikipedia: Riverdale,…
Riverside Boulevard
"All This Neighborhood Needs Is a Name" by Alison Gregor is a February 24, 2012 story in the New York (NY) Times about the residential real estate developments along Riverside Boulevard…
Riveters (National Women’s Hockey League team)
The National Women's Hockey League -- the first-ever all women’s professional paid hockey league -- was announced in March and April 2015 with four inaugural teams, consisting of the Boston…
Riviera on the Range (Austin nickname)
Michael Corcoran of the Austin (TX) American-Statesman has called the city of Austin "Riviera on the Range" since 1998. Corcoran covers the film industry in Austin and he was comparing…
Roach Coach
"Roach coach" is an unfortunate nickname for many taco trucks. In the 1970s, airlines serving Latin America were sometimes called "roach coaches" (a slur against the…
Road Apple
A "horse apple" is horse manure. It's called a "road apple" when it's found in the road. "Road apples, horse dung" was cited in The American Thesaurus of…
Road Pirates (police nickname)
"Road Pirates -- Paid by/with your money to steal your money" is a popular poster. The saying refers to "theft by cop" (civil asset forfeiture), where police stop cars and take…
Road Rage
"Road rage" -- aggressive behavior by the driver of one automobile against one or more other vehicles -- became a popular term about 1987-88. KTLA, a television station in Los Angeles,…
Road Rash
"Road rash" occurs when a person's skin is scraped by pavement, usually as a result of a cycling or skateboarding accident. The term "road rash" has been cited in print…
Roadhouse (Road House)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Roadhouse (facility)In Australia A roadhouse is a service station in a rural area specifically aimed to service passing traffic on a major intercity route. A…
Roads, Rates and Rubbish (local government concerns)
"Roads, rates and rubbish" (also "rates, roads and rubbish") are commonly said to be the three top concerns of local government. The saying is mostly restricted to Australia and…
Roaring Forties
"The Roaring Forties" represents the Times Square area (42nd Street). This appears to have been coined just after the first World War. "The Roaring Forties" is a 19th century…
Roastery
"Coffee roasting" is not new, but the term "roastery" is newly popular. What was once called a "coffeehouse" or a "coffee shop" has often been replaced with…
Rob Roy (cocktail)
In 1894, the opera Rob Roy opened around Herald Square. The old Waldorf Hotel was near Herald Square. It is probably correct that the "Rob Roy" cocktail began at the Waldorf in 1894 or…
Robe-itis
"Robe-itis" (or "black robe-itis") is an affliction suffered by some robed judges. A person can put on a robe and assume a god-like attitude and power, forgetting that he or she…