Sammy Scheme (Uncle Sam + Ponzi Scheme)
Financial manager and Pacific Investment Management (PIMCO) co-founder William H. Gross coined the name "Sammy scheme" ("Uncle Sam" + Ponzi scheme) in PIMCO's November 2010…
1930s: Jazzing the Big Apple
San Angeloan (inhabitant of San Angelo)
"San Angeloan” is the name of an inhabitant of San Angelo, Texas. The name “San Angeloan” has been cited in print since at least 1887. Wikipedia: San Angelo, TexasSan Angelo ( /sæn…
San Anto (“San Antonio” in Chicano slang)
"San Anto" means "San Antonio" in Chicano slang. This slang (called "Caló") was popular with Mexican-Americans in the 1970s, when several citations of "San…
San Antone (San Antonio)
San Antonio has been called "San Antone" from at least the 1840s. 7 May 1840, Army and Navy Chronicle, "Texian Navy," pg. 296:Schooners:San JacintoSan BernardSan Antone January…
San Antonian (inhabitant of San Antonio)
"San Antonian" is the name of an inhabitant of San Antonio, Texas. The name "San Antonian" has been cited in print since at least 1847. Wikipedia: DemonymSan Antonio → San…
San Antonio Blight (San Antonio Light nickname)
The San Antonio Light was an afternoon newspaper that was published from 1881 until 1993. The Light was a long-running competitor of the San Antonio Express-News (nicknamed San Antonio…
San Antonio Excuse-for-News (San Antonio Express-News nickname)
The San Antonio Express-News began in 1865 as the San Antonio Express. The Express was a morning newspaper; the San Antonio News began in 1918 as an evening newspaper to challenge the San Antonio…
San Francisco of the South (Austin nickname)
The city of Austin has been called the "San Francisco of the South" (or "San Francisco of the Southwest"). Austin, like San Francisco, is a city whose residents have liberal…
San Jacinto Corn
Most of the corn of Texas can be traced to the corn acquired at the victorious Battle of San Jacinto (1836). The soldiers had wanted to call it Houston corn, but Sam Houston urged them to call it…
San Juan Hill; The Gut
"San Juan Hill" and "The Gut" are old names for the west side of Manhattan. "San Juan Hill" dates immediately after the Spanish American War and the taking of San Juan…
San Man
The 1954 hit song "Mr. Sandman" was performed by The Chordettes, with words and music by Pat Ballard. There's no exact date to pinpoint, but some time after that, a man who worked…
San Marcan (inhabitant of San Marcos)
"San Marcan” is the name of an inhabitant of San Marcos, Texas. The name “San Marcan” has been cited in print since at least 1911. Wikipedia: San Marcos, TexasSan Marcos is a city in the…
San Marvelous (San Marcos nickname)
The city of San Marcos is located between the cities of Austin and San Antonio, and is the home of Texas State University. The pleasant nickname "San Marvelous" -- surprisingly, not…
Sanctuary City
A "sanctuary city" in the United States is one where the city protects illegal immigrants from certain practices, such as asking about a person's legal status. The term…
Sanctuary Restaurant
A "sanctuary restaurant" is based on the concept of a "sanctuary city." The website sanctuaryrestaurants.org, a joint project of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC)…
Sand and Jello (San Angelo nickname)
"Sand and jello" has been a seldom-used nickname for the city of San Angelo since at least 2006. "Sand-and-jello" sounds similar to "San Angelo." There is no serious…
Sand Hog (Sandhog)
It's either "sand hog" or "sandhog." The men who built our bridges and tunnels have a name. Surpisingly, this doesn't appear in Irving Lewis Allen's City in Slang…
Santa Anna’s Revenge (traveler’s diarrhea or “Montezuma’s revenge”)
"Santa Anna's revenge" is a term (like "Montezuma's revenge") that was used in the 1960s for traveler's diarrhea -- especially after eating Mexican food.…
Santa Claus & Sidewalk Santas
What would Christmas be without New York City? "A Visit From St. Nicholas," also known from its first line of "'Twas the night before Christmas," was published in 1822. It…
Santa Claus Curse (New York Mets)
The New York Mets hold an annual Christmas party for New York City schoolchildren. The "Santa Claus curse" holds that the Mets player who dresses up as Santa Claus the following year…