Ostrich Economics
People who refuse to see what is happening are compared to the ostrich, an animal that -- according to the myth -- buries its head in the sand. "Ostrich economics" is a policy promoted by…
Biggest Little City in the World (Reno, Nevada nickname)
Oswego: Starch City (nickname)
The city of Oswego , New York, was known as the "Starch City" from 1848 to about the 1920s. The Oswego Starch Factory opened in 1848, and Oswego became the corn starch capital of the…
Othello (chocolate-covered sponge cake)
Brooklyn's Ebinger's Bakery operated from 1898 until 1972; a bakery revived the Ebinger's name briefly in 1982. "Othello" was a signature product, but the recipe was never…
OTM (Other Than Mexican)
The Border Patrol on the United States-Mexican border have called a (usually illegal) immigrant not from Mexico as an "OTM," or "Other Than Mexican." OTMs have usually been from…
Otto (football linebacker position)
"Sam, Mike and Will" (strongside, middle and weakside) are popular linebacker names, but there is also "Otto." The name "Otto" was coined by Jacksonville Jaguars head…
Our Lady of New York
"Our Lady of New York" is the statue in an altar at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. Unless you're referring to the Botero. 14 April 1942, New York Times, pg.…
Our Savior Has Arrived (Occupational Safety & Health Administration or OSHA nickname)
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) was created in the Occupational Health and Safety Act signed into law on December 20, 1970, to issue and enforce standards for workplace…
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
An "out-of-pocket" expense or cost is something that someone has to pay himself or herself. For example, on a business trip, there could be out-of-pocket expenses such as gas and meals.…
Outdoor Capital of Texas (Buda nickname)
How can there be an "Outdoor Capital of Texas"? Isn't Texas all about the outdoors? It's all about business. Buda opened the stores Texas Outdoor Zone (in 2003) and the huge…
Outer Boroughs
Manhattan is one borough of five, but the other four (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) are often called the "outer boroughs." The term "outer boroughs" was used…
OuterB or Outerb (Outer Borough)
"OuterB" is a Queens real estate blog that was named in January 2006. "OuterB" stands for "outer borough" (i.e., not the borough of Manhattan). The term has been…
Outhouse Steakback (Outback Steakhouse nickname)
Outback Steakhouse is a restaurant chain that began in Tampa, Florida, in 1988. The nickname "Outhouse Steakback" is a ""spoonerism" (or transposition) of the compunds…
Over For America (Organizing For America or OFA nickname)
Barack Obama's organization for his presidential run in 2008 was called 'Obama For America" (OFA). When Obama became president in January 2009, the organization was renamed…
Overdoughse (overdose + dough)
"Overdoughse" (overdose + dough) is a jocular word to describe what might occur from eating too much cookie/pizza dough. "Approaching cookie overdoughse" was posted on Twitter…
Overkrauted (too much sauerkraut)
"Sauerkraut" gave the word "kraut" (for "German"). "Overkrauted" -- like "overcrowded" -- can mean too many Germans or too much sauerkraut.…
Overland Trout (bacon)
"Overland trout" is a cowboy slang name for "bacon." The term "overland trout" was part of a larger cowboy slang list that was printed in many newspapers in 1887.…
Owners’ Box or Owner’s Box (Texas House gallery where lobbyists sit)
"Owners' box" (or "owner's box") is the nickname for the gallery of the Texas House. In 2003, lobbyists sat there and the name "owners' box" was a sly…
Ox Eyes (Ojos de Buey) or Eggs in Hell (Eggs in Purgatory)
Tex-Mex recipes call for a little heat applied to the normal breakfast dish of eggs. One popular dish is huevos rancheros. The dish of "Ox Eyes" ("Ojos de Buey" or "eggs in…
Oxford English Dictionary “Big Apple” definition (September 2008)
In September 2008, the Oxford English Dictionary added a full "Big Apple" definition. I contributed to some of this, but did not write the definition. (I wasn't even given a…
Oxygin (oxygen + gin)
"Oxygin" (oxygen + gin) and "hydrogin" (hydrogen + gin) are jocular terms. A now-classic joke was printed in Manners: A Novel by Miss Francis Moore: "Every body learns…