Dirt-poor
Someone who is "dirt-poor" is extremely poor, owning little except, perhaps, dirt. The expression began in the United States in the second half of the 19th century, although it's not…
Education/Schools
Dirty Bronx
"Dirty Bronx" is a hip-hop name for the Bronx that has been cited in print since at leas 2004. "Dirty" can mean unclean, but it also means dangerous or violent. Wikipedia: The…
Dirty Image (and illegal postering)
16 June 2005, New York Daily News, "City Washes Its Hands of '2nd Dirtiest' Ranking" by Jose Martinez, pg. 4:WE'VE WIPED AWAY the crime, but not the grime. A new survey in…
Dirty Rice (Cajun Rice)
Dirty rice (sometimes called "Louisiana dirty rice" or "cajun rice") is a popular Louisiana rice dish. Port Arthur ("Cajun Capital of Texas") has several places that…
Dirty SA (San Antonio nickname)
"Dirty SA" is a nickname for the city of San Antonio. On his radio show on August 5, 2011, Neal Boortz (who attended Texas A&M from 1963-67) took a caller from San Antonio and…
Dirty South
"Dirty South" is a term that was coined by Georgia rapper Cool Breeze; the Atlanta group Goodie Mob featured the title "Dirty South" on its album Soul Food (1995). The exact…
Dirty Sprite
"Dirty Sprite" became popular in 2011 and consists of Sprite, cough syrup, and a Jolly Rancher. A story in the New York (NY) Times on November 4, 2011, stated that a "Dirty…
Dirty Third (Dirty 3rd)
Houston rappers have named their turf the "Dirty Third" or "Dirty 3rd" -- taken from the terms "Dirty South" (current from 1995) and "Third Coast" (current…
Dirty Thirty (30th Police Precinct nickname)
"Dirty Thirty" ("Dirty 30") is the unflattering nickname that the New York Police Department's 30th Precinct was called in April 1994. Police officers in the precinct were…
Dirty Water Dog
A post on Roadfood.com, 11-19-2003: "A 'dirty water dog'is an affectionate name for a push cart hot dog or a hot dog you would get off a lunch truck. I think it may be a New York/New…
Dirty Yards (short runs in football)
"Dirty yards" in football are usually short yardage, highly contested runs for about three or four yards. A "home run" -- a clear path to big yardage and a possible score --…
Disappearance Ticket (desk appearance ticket)
In New York City, many people arrested for misdemeanors and "E" felonies are ordered to appear before the New York City Criminal Court and are given a desk appearance ticket (DAT). So…
Disappointee
An "appointee" is someone who a political committee selects to run for a political office. A person who tries, but fails, to be an "appointee" might be called a…
Disassociated Press (Associated Press nickname)
The Associated Press (AP) is a news agency founded in 1846 and headquartered in New York City. The nickname "Disassociated Press" appeared in the Bugs Bunny short film What's Up,…
Disaster Divide
The term "disaster divide" means that natural disasters (such as earthquakes) cause more fatalities in poorer areas than in richer areas. In richer areas, the building construction is…
DisAster Place or DisAstor Place (Astor Place Opera House)
Manhattan's Astor Place is named after John Jacob Astor (July 17, 1763 – March 29, 1848), then New York City's wealthiest resident. THe Astor Place Opera House was opened on November…
DisAster Place or DisAstor Place (Astor Place)
Manhattan's Astor Place is named after John Jacob Astor (July 17, 1763 – March 29, 1848), then New York City's wealthiest resident. THe Astor Place Opera House was opened on November…
Disco Diva
"Disco diva" is a term about as dated as "disco" itself. Whatever became of Studio 54? Grace Jones? 30 December 1977, New York Times, pg. C17:At Studio 54 (489-7667), the $40 a…
Disco Fries (American version of “Poutine”)
"Disco fries" are first cited in 1996 and are believed to have started at New Jersey diners. Some think that "disco fries" means "diner fries," while others insist…
Disenfrenchfries (disenfranchise + french fries)
"Disenfranchise" -- meaning "to deprive someone of a franchise, generally their right to vote" -- has nothing to do with french fries, but there are jokes. "I had to break…