Gwen Barrett and 1970s “Big Apple” campaign (1971)
New York City was officially branded the "Big Apple" in the 1970s, with a campaign by the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau (NYCVB), late banded as NYC & Company and now called…
Food Festivals
Gym Bunny
A "gym bunny" is someone who spends a lot of time at the gym. A "gym bunny" differs from a "gym rat" in that the gym rat is a dedicated individual to the sport of…
Gym Candy
"Gym candy" is a slang name for steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. The drugs are like "candy" to bodybuilders who frequent gyms. 'Gym candy" has been cited…
Gym Rat
A "gym rat" is a person who spends a large amount of time at a gym. 'Gym rat" has been cited in print since at least 1963. The early citations of "gym rat" all…
Gym Shoe Sandwich (Jim Shoe Sandwich)
A "gym shoe" sandwich (also called a "jim shoe" or "jim shoo") is a Chicago specialty that has gyro meat, roast beef and corned beef. Other ingredients have included…
Gymaholic
A "gymaholic" (gym + -aholic) is someone who likes to work out in a gym. "Tall, good-looking man, 43, gymaholic" was cited in a 1988 personal advertisement in New York magazine.…
Gymtimidation (gym + intimidation)
"Gymtimidation" (gym + intimidation) is for someone to be intimidated from going to a gym. Planet Fitness has used "No Gymtimidation" in its ads and has trademarked this since…
Gyoza (Japanese Ravioli)
"Gyoza" are Japanese food wrappers (or dumplings), similar to Chinese "jiaozi." The dish became popular in Japan following World War II. "YAKI GYO-ZA" was printed in…
Gypsy Cab
The Historical Dictionary of American Slang, A-G has citations for "gypsy," meaning an independent migratory trucker, from 1953 and 1960. A "gypsy cab" is an unlicensed taxi.…
Gypsy Moth Republican
A "gypsy moth Republican" is a moderate Republican from the Midwest or the Northeast (where gypsy moths cause frequent infestations). The term "gypsy moth" has been cited in…
Gypsy Robe (Legacy Robe)
The "gypsy robe" is a Broadway musical tradition that has nothing to do with the famous musical Gypsy (1959). The robe (a negligee) originally began with the musical Gentlemen Prefer…
Gyro
"Gyro" is the Greek version of New York's Italian "hero" sandwich. "Gyros" was cited in The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON) on June 16, 1964. "Typically they…
H-Town (Houston nickname)
"H-Town" ia hip-hop nickname for the city of Houston. Several cities were called "h-town" in CB language that existed in the 1970s. However, hip-hop probably didn't borrow…
H2NO (H2O/water + no)
Entry in progress -- B.P. TwitterBeingfamous@bngfmsnews[SFC] H2No: Calif officials urge water conservation: State officials reported a smaller Sierra snowpack tha.. http://tinyurl.com/dz46ut3:48…
Habibi City
New York magazine called New York City "Habibi City" for its cover story in August 2026. In 2026, New York City had its first Muslim mayor in Zohran Mamdani. "Hababi" is Arabic,…
Hablanero (habla + habanero)
"Habanero" is a hot variety of chili pepper. "Hablanero" -- "habla" is Spanish for "speak" -- is a joke. "El hablanero pimiento, the speaking…
Hack-a-Player or Hack-a-Shaq (basketball foul strategy)
Shaquille O'Neal was a powerful force in the NBA when he got the basketball near the basket, but he was only a .527 career free throw shooter. Teams tried a "hack-a-Shaq" strategy --…
Had One Never Did Again (Honda backronymic nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P.Honda Wikipedia: HondaHonda Motor Company, Limited (本田技研工業株式会社 Honda Giken Kōgyō KK?, IPA: [hoɴda]; /ˈhɒndə/) is a Japanese public multinational…
Hail (ice); “Hold the hail” (hold the ice)
Newspapers.com 6 June 1922, Oklahoma City (OK) Times, "Chatter of Soda Jerkers Has a Jazz Flavor All Its Own, Experts Declare," pg. 7, col. 7: "Sky juice, sky high, heavey on the…
Hail Mary (1975 Roger Staubach pass)
The famous "Hail Mary" pass was Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach's throw to wide receiver Drew Pearson in a December 28, 1975 football game against the Minnesota Vikings.…