Wet Coast (wet + west coast)
Cities such as Vancouver (British Columbia), Seattle (Washington) and Portland (Oregon) get a lot of rain. "The wet coast" was cited in the book Canada: This Land of Ours (1976). The term…
1930s: Jazzing the Big Apple
Wetback (Wet Back)
"Wetback" (or "wet back") is a derisive slang term for a Mexican (who crosses the Rio Grande into Texas and has a "wet back"). The term has been used from at least…
Whac-A-Mole Season
The end of the session in Albany -- when the state budget is being approved -- is sometimes known as the "Whac-A-Mole" season. Special interest legislation pops up, to be passed through…
Whack Ass Queens or Whack Ass Queenz (Queens)
"Crack is Wack" is a famous Manhattan mural that was painted by Keith Haring (1958-1990) in 1986. "Wack" or "whack" comes from "wack" or "whacky,"…
Whackage
Barry Ritholtz's financial blog, The Big Picture, has been using the term "whackage" (whack + package/wreckage) since at least February 2006. A typical Friday blog headline is…
Whaddya, Whaddya (Whaddaya, Whaddaya)
"Whaddya, whaddaya" (or "whaddaya, whaddaya") is supposedly a New York City saying, but it can also be found on The Sopranos television program. It means "what do…
Wham Bam Tram or A Streetcar Named Disaster (Houston’s MetroRail)
The city of Houston's MetroRail system is 7.5 miles of light rail, first opened in 2004. MetroRail had so many accidents in its first months of operation that it was being dubbed the…
Whammy Bar (vibrato for guitar)
American singer and guitarist Lonnie Mack (1941-2016) had a 1963 hit song titled "Wham." Mack became known for the use of a vibrato bar on his guitar., which would soon be known as a…
What are you going to do about it?
"What are you going to do about it?" was the 1870s slogan regarding the corrupt Tammany Hall ring. Cartoonist Thomas Nast used the phrase in his many famous "Tammany tiger"…
What the community boards do (and do they really represent the community?)
There are 12 community boards in Manhattan, with about 50 members on each one. The Manhattan Borough President makes about 600 appointments. It's one of the BP's biggest responsibilities.…
What the Manhattan borough president does
The revision of the city charter in the late 1980s has made the once-powerful borough president's office rather toothless. We now have a very strong mayor and a strong city council, but…
Whataboutism
"Whataboutism" is a tactic to deflect criticism by bringing up an alleged defect of the criticizing party. For example, the United States might criticize Russia, only to be told,…
Whatchamacallit (what you may call it)
"Whatchamacallit" (what you may call it) is the name of a candy bar introduced in 1978 by The Hershey Company. The slang name is of unknown authorship. "Whatchamacallit" was…
Wheatheart of the Nation (Perryton slogan)
Perryton (in Ochiltree County) was a leading wheat producer, and in 1947 it held the title "Wheatheart of the Nation." ("Wheatheart of the Plains" is also used.) An annual…
Wheeler’s Which Close (“Don’t ask if—ask which” sales technique)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Closing (sales)Alternative choice close: also called the positive choice close, in which the salesperson presents the prospect with two choices, both of which…
When I make a mistake, it’s a beaut!
Mayor Fiorello La Guardia was reminded that a judge he'd disagreed with had been appointed by him. "When I make a mistake, it's a beaut!" he declared. The line became famous and…
When you leave New York…
"When you leave New York..." There are many ways to finish this, but all generally tell you that you're not going anywhere special. "When you leave New York you are camping…
Whenever (W subway line)
The W train has been called the "Whenever" train because service has not been frequent. The W train has received the poorest grades of any subway line and also has another unfortunate…
Where Dallas Goes for Fun (Addison slogan)
"Where Dallas goes for fun" has been the slogan of Addison since at least 1999, appearing on key chains and T-shirts and mugs. Addison has many restaurants and hotels that attract…
Where Everybody Is Somebody & Home of Cowboys and Legends (Hico slogans)
"Where Everybody Is Somebody" and "Home of Cowboys and Legends" are slogans of Hico in Hamilton County. Hico has a "Billy the Kid" museum and claims that local…