Mythical National Championship (MNC)
College football's season ends with a series of bowl games, but there is no playoff system. A national champion is declared by the sportswriters, but not through a championship tournament. The…
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus
N-ICE (NYSE + ICE)
The IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) arranged to buy the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in December 2012. The blog Zero Hedge wrote on December 20, 2012, "N-ICE N-ICE Baby: ICE Buys NYSE For…
N.Y.C.
The Oxford English Dictionary's March 2004 revision contains my 1869 entry as the earliest for the initials "N.Y.C." representing New York City. "N.Y." is far more common.;…
N.Y.C. The Big Apple (Atari video game, 1984)
"N.Y.C. The Big Apple" was a 1984 action game written by Russ Segal for the Atari 8-bit family. The stated objective: "As a visiting tourist, you must visit 12 locations in New York…
N’awlins (New Orleans nickname)
"N'awlins" is a way of saying "New Orleans." It's frequently said that this quickly identifies a tourist. "N'Awlins is plenty good enough for me" was…
N’erlins or Nerlins (New Orleans nickname)
"N'erlins" or "Nerlins" for "New Orleans" was popularized by American actor Ryan Gosling, who hosted the New York City-based late-night live television sketch…
NAALCP (NAACP + liberal)
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) founded in 1909 with the mission "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all…
Nabe (a neighborhood)
Entry in progress -- B.P. [This entry includes the research of Ben Zimmer that was posted on the American Dialect Society list.] (Oxford English Dictionary)nabe, n. and adj.Etymology: Representing…
Nacanowhere or Naconowhere or Nacognowhere (Nacogdoches nickname)
The city of Nacogdoches claims to be the "oldest town in Texas," but it's not especially big (compared to Dallas or Houston). Some Texans consider Nacogdoches to be a…
Nacho (Nachos)
Nachos are tortillas with melted cheese and often other toppings (such as jalapenos). The name "nacho" comes from the name "Ignacio" of inventor Ignacio Anaya. It's said…
Nacho Cheese (“not your cheese” or “not yo’ cheese”)
Nachos is a Tex-Mex dish dating from about 1940. In 1966, Doritos tortilla chips were created by Frito-Lay (a Texas company). A popular Doritos flavor (since 1972) is "nacho cheese." By…
Nacho Salad
The taco was featured in a taco salad by the 1960s. Nachos were invented in the 1940s and have been featured in a "nacho salad" since at least the 1980s. The nacho salad is decidedly less…
Nacogdochean or Nacogdochian (inhabitant of Nacogdoches)
"Nacogdochean” (or "Nacogdochian") is the name of an inhabitant of Nacogdoches, Texas. The name “Nacogdochian” has been cited in print since at least 1908 and…
Nagadocious (Nacogdoches misspelling)
"Nagadocious" is a spelling error for the Texas city of Nacogdoches. The Space Shuttle Columbia dropped some debris around the city; a television news map in February 2003 mispelled the…
Naked Cake (cake without outer icing)
A "naked cake" is a caked with unfrosted sides. Wedding cakes are popular versions of the naked cake. "Naked cake" has been cited on Twitter since 2009 and became popular by…
Naked City
"There are eight million stories in the Naked City. This has been one of them." Does anyone remember that line? There was a tv show called Naked City and a movie called Naked City.…
Naked Roaches (Nacogdoches nickname)
The city of Nacogdoches is an old Texas city (it's advertised as "the oldest town in Texas") with a funny name. In 1912, a vaudeville-touring Groucho Marx declared that
Naked Run (Naked Running)
A "naked run" ("naked running") means running without electronics -- no iPhone, iPod, watch, etc. It does not mean running without clothes (although the context of the term…
Naked Running (Naked Run)
A "naked run" ("naked running") means running without electronics -- no iPhone, iPod, watch, etc. It does not mean running without clothes (although the context of the term…
Naked Sushi or Body Sushi (sushi served on a naked person “platter”)
"Naked sushi" (or "body sushi") is the practice of serving sushi on the body of a naked woman or naked man. "Nyotaimori" is Japanese for the "female body…