Señorita Special (Señorita Plate; Señorita Platter)
The "Señorita Special" (also called "Señorita Plate" and "Señorita Platter") is a Mexican combination plate, still served in old-time Tex-Mex restaurants and…
1930s: Jazzing the Big Apple
Sept-taper or Septaper (September + taper)
The stock market had all eyes on the Federal Reserve in 2013, speculating when its quantitative easing program -- involving as much as $85 billion a month -- would lessen or "taper." The…
Septagon (seven-sided bathroom in Central Park’s Arsenal)
The Arsenal building in Central Park is now used by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The Arsenal has a seven-sided bathroom that has been dubbed the "Septagon"…
Sequesteria (sequester + hysteria)
"Sequesteria" (sequester + hysteria) is a term that was popularized by conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh in February 2013. Budget sequestration in the Budget Control Act of…
Sequestrocalypse (sequester + apocalypse)
News reports frequently told of apocalyptic budget cuts resulting from the 2013 U.S. federal budget sequestration. Conservative blogs popularized the term "sequestrocalypse" (sequester +…
Sermon on the Mound (Pope delivering Mass at Yankee Stadium)
Pope Paul VI gave Mass at Yankee Stadium in October 1965. It was quickly called the "Sermon on the Mound" -- a linguistic borrowing from the "Sermon on the Mount." Pope John…
Sesame Seed Bun (hamburger bun)
The term "hamburger bun" has been cited in print since at least 1902. Seeded bread has long been popular, and seeded hamburger buns add to the flavor and texture. "HAMBURGER Served…
Setters (Pace University teams)
Pace University has a campus on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, although the athletic teams are mostly from Pace's Westchester campus. The team nickname is the Pace Setters. Too bad…
Seven Crazy Hours Of Our Lives or Seven Crappy Hours Of Our Lives (“school” backronym)
S.C.H.O.O.L = Six Crazy Hours Of Our Lives and S.C.H.O.O.L.E.D = Six Crazy Hours OF Our Lives Each Day and S.C.H.O.O.L - Six.Crap.Hours.Of.Our.Lives and S.C.H.O.O.L = Six Crappy Hours Of Our Lives…
Seven O’Clockers
"Seven o'clockers" were those people (about 200) who lived in Philadelphia and wrote the 7 a.m. Reading Railroad train to Penn Station in New York. Then, at 5 p.m., they'd take…
Seven Sisters’ Row (West 25th Street)
"Sisters' Row" (also called "Seven Sisters' Row) was located on West 25th Street, near Seventh Avenue, and was known for its houses of prostitution. As described in the…
Seven Year Itch
The "seven year itch" (also "seven-year itch" or "seven years itch") is an attack of scabies, said to keep the victim scratching for seven years or more. "Seven…
Seven-Course Meal (includes six pack of beer)
The six-pack of beer became popular in the 1960s, along with the "seven-course dinner/meal" joke -- a six pack and one other food item. The "Irish gourmet dinner" or "Irish…
Seventh-inning stretch (Manhattan College’s claim to origin)
Manhattan College has claimed to have originated baseball's "seventh inning stretch" in 1882. The seventh inning is the time before the end of the game where the spectators stretch…
Sex, Fun and Alcohol (Stephen F. Austin State University nickname)
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university in Nacogdoches, Texas, that opened in 1923. "SFA" has had a reputation as a party school. The SFA nicknames "Sex, Fun and…
Sexocrat (sex + bureaucrat)
A "sexocrat" (sex + -crat, as in bureaucrat) describes a politician who legislates sex rules for others to follow. "Sexocrats" and "sexocracy" have been cited in print…
Sexretary (sex + secretary)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Urban DictionarysexretaryA reporting female that the boss primarily uses for sex in and around the office, similar to a secretary, but provides the additional…
Shablam (dance move)
A "dip" dance move has also been called "Death drop" (or "Deathdrop"), "Shablam," "Shawam" (or "Shawham") and "5000." At the…
Shabu-Shabu
"Shabu-shabu" is a Japanese hotpot dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables boiled in water. The name "shabu-shabu" comes from the "swish-swish" as the meat and…
Shade Tree Barbecue
A "shade tree barbecue" is an informal barbecue -- not always under a shady tree, although that is the image. The Texas term (also used in other southern states) is cited since at least…