Venison Chili (Deer Chili; Deer Meat Chili)
Deer can be seen in many parts of Texas. Chile con carne is the official dish of Texas, so it's no surprise that deer meat would be added to chili. In 1953, the governor of Texas, Allan…
1930s: Jazzing the Big Apple
Venture Capital (Venture Capitalist; Venture Capitalism)
"Venture capital" is risk capital -- money invested in startup companies with high growth potential. The term "venture capital" was used by at least 1935 and was popularized in…
Venture Socialism
Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) talked about President Obama's jobs bill on Fox News’s On the Record with Greta Van Susteren on September 14, 2011: “I would love to be able to work with the…
Venus of MacDougal Alley (nickname of model Audrey Munson)
MacDougal Alley, in the area of Manhattan's Washington Square North, was the home of many famous sculptors and artists in the early 1900s. Audrey Munson (1891-1996), a popular model, was…
Vermont: Green Mountain State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Green MountainsThe Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range runs primarily south to north and extends approximately 250…
Very Overpowering Drink, Killing Agony (“vodka” backronym)
"Very Overpowering Drink, Killing Agony" is a jocular backronym (back acronym) for the word "vodka." "VODKA - Very Overpowering Drink, Killing Agony" was cited on…
Very Vanilla (very + vanilla)
"Vanilla" is a flavor; "vanilla" is also a slang term for something that is plain and drab. "Very Vanilla" (usually capitalized) is a flavor that seemingly promises…
Vesey Squeezey or Vesey Squeezy (pedestrian traffic at Vesey Street)
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center affected nearby Vesey Street. PATH rail commuters created a crush of pedestrian traffic on Vesey Street each rush hour, in the…
Vetch Capital of the World (Cooper nickname)
Cooper (near Paris, Texas) is known as the "Vetch Capital of the World." Vetch is a bean that perhaps parakeets like. Cooper's slogan is not popular. Handbook of Texas OnlineCOOPER,…
Veterans Abandoned (Department of Veterans Affairs or VA nickname)
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a government-run military veteran benefit system. The derogatory VA nickname of "Veterans Abandoned" has been used by those who…
Vichy Republican
Entry in progress -- B.PFrench Republican Wikipedia: Vichy FranceVichy France, officially the French State (l'État français), was France during the regime of Marshal Philippe Pétain, during…
Vichyssoise
"Vichyssoise" was allegedly invented by Louis Diat, chef of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in 1917. The problem is, I can't find a single citation before the 1930s. "Vichyssoise"…
Victicrat
"Victicrat" (from the word "victim" and the suffix "-crat," meaning an advocate of a particular form of rule) was coined by libertarian commentator Larry Elder and has…
Victim Disarmament (gun control)
"Gun control" is a term used by people who advocate regulating guns; others prefer the term "victim disarmament." The term "victim disarmament" has been cited in print…
Victorian (inhabitant of Victoria, Texas)
"Victorian” is the name of an inhabitant of Victoria, Texas. The name “Victorian" has been cited in print since at least 1875. Wikipedia: Victoria, TexasVictoria is a city in and the…
Victory Lap
A "victory lap" is an extra lap around the track taken by the winner of a race, performed in front of the fans. "The officials finally declared Flemke the winner and he took the…
Victory Lap (an extra year of school)
A "victory lap" in sports is when someone wins a race, and then takes an extra lap for the fans to celebrate. A "victory lap" in education is when a student takes an extra year…
Vietnam (Morrisania Air Rights buildings)
Morrisania Air Rights is a public housing project of three buildings in Melrose and Morrisania in the Bronx. The buildings were contructed over Metro-North Railroad tracks and the project was…
Vietnamese Fajitas (Bo Nuong Xa)
Vietnamese fajitas (Bo Nuong Xa) are strips of beef with lemongrass, rolled in rice-paper wrappers (rather than tortillas). Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, sprouts, mint, basil, carrots, jalapeños…
Vincent’s Sauce
The Original Vincent's restaurant is in Little Italy at 199 Mott Street. Vincent's proudly declares that it's been around for a century, since 1904. I don't particularly care…