Soda (for “pop”)
"Soda." Only "soda." Not "pop." Not "soda pop." Not "soft drink." Not "cola," although people will understand that. Not "coke,"…
1930s: Jazzing the Big Apple
Soda Jerk (Soda Jerker)
A "soda jerk" (or "soda jerker") is a person employed behind a soda fountain, "jerking" the fountain spigot to make a soda or an ice cream soda or other such drinks.…
Sodom by the Sea (Coney Island)
Coney Island has sometimes been called "Sodom by the Sea," in reference to the vices of the Biblical city of Sodom. The headline for the New York (NY) Times on October 15, 1893 was:…
Sodom South (Greenwich Street between Carlisle and Rector Streets)
Greenwich Street between Carlisle and Rector Streets was called "a kind of Sodom South" in the New York (NY) Times on March 9, 2007. A topless bar (Pussycat Lounge), Thunder Lingerie and…
SoFi (South of Fifth Avenue or South of Flatiron)
"SoFi" can mean either "South of Fifth Avenue" (this doesn't exactly make sense because Fifth Avenue runs north and south!) or "South of Flatiron" (this…
SoFi (South of Fifth Street)
SoFi is "south of Fifth Street" in Miami's South Beach. There is also a SoFi in New York City. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_BeachSouth Beach (also known as SoBe) is a section…
SoFlo (South Flores Street, San Antonio)
The South Flores Street area of San Antonio was composed of many large, underutilized industrial-type buildings. Like the SoHo (South of Houston Street) area of New York City, artists began to…
SoFlo (South Florida)
"SoFlo" is "South Florida." The name, perhaps, was influenced by the trendy 1960s abbreviation for "South of Houston" in New York City, "Soho," that has…
SoFo (South of Fourth Street)
"SoFo" is "South of Fourth Street" in Brooklyn. The term - a new one - is also the name of a bar there. http://www.papermag.com/guide/bars/brooklyn.htmlSOFO 550 Court St.,…
Soft Despotism
"Despotism (or "hard despotism") is life under a rule of a single entity with absolute power. In a democracy, the majority can install "big government" and create a…
Soft Tyranny
The term "soft tyranny" was popularized by conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin, author of the best-selling book Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto (2009). A "hard…
Softball Question
A "softball question" is a question that is easy to answer. Political candidates usually like softball questions because answering them makes the candidates appear strong and in control.…
SoHa (South of Harlem)
"SoHa" is "SOuth of HArlem." Morningside Heights is the traditional name. Yes, it's another derivative from "SoHo." Attention Brooklyn real estate developers!…
SoHell (South of Hell’s Kitchen)
SoHell (south of Hell's Kitchen is a neighborhood name that was coined by New York magazine in August 2006. (The Gothamist citation below is from August 8th, but New York magazine dates its…
SoHo (South of Houston Street)
"SoHo" means SOuth of HOuston Street. The Oxford English Dictionary has no mention of New York's Soho, but has this for London: The name of a district in the West End of London,…
SOHO candy bar (from Turkey)
There is a "SOHO" candy bar that is popular in Turkey. The wrapper shows tall buildings, like New York City. The chocolate candy bar is not sold in the United States. Does anyone have a…
SoLa (South Lamar Boulevard, Austin)
"SoLa" is a name for South Lamar Boulevard in Austin. Austin's neighborhood name game began with SoCo for South Congress Avenue. To see where all this may lead, see the New York City…
Solarcoaster (solar stocks + roller coaster)
Solar stocks have been known for their volatility. The term "solarcoaster" (solar stocks + roller coaster) has been used to describe the solar stocks' up-and-down ride. A blog called…
SOLE Food (Sustainable, Organic, Local, Ethical)
SOLE (Sustainable, Organic, Local, Ethical) food -- a pun on "soul food" -- was coined by The Ethicurean blog in May 2006. "Ethicurean" is also an invented word; SOLEfood.com…
Solita (South of Little Italy)
"Solita" (or "SoLita") means "South of Little Italy." It's a spinoff from NoLita (North of little Italy). The name started with the "SoLita Building" at…