Never Again Volunteer Yourself (“navy” backronym)
"Never Again Volunteer Yourself" is a backronym (back acronym) of the word "navy" that has been printed on several gift items, such as bumper stickers, T-shirts and posters.…
Origin of “The Whole Nine Yards”
Never let them see you sweat! (Dry Idea commercial)
"Never let them see you sweat!" was coined by a "Dry Idea" deodorant commercial, one of which featured New York-based designer Donna Karan. The phrase "no sweat" was…
Never Say Anything (National Security Agency or NSA nickname)
The National Security Agency was formed in 1962 to improve foreign intelligence within the United States government. The agency was so secret (especially in its early years) that even its existence…
Never/Rarely (N/R subway lines)
The N/R subway lines are often called the "Never" and the "Rarely" because of infrequent service. The slang has been current since at least 1996. The "R" line was…
New Abnormal
Wikipedia: New normal A new normal is a state to which an economy, society, etc. settles following a crisis, when this differs from the situation that prevailed prior to the start of the crisis.…
New Amsterdam
The Encyclopedia of New York City (1995) is terse on New Amsterdam. The following entry is credited to no one: "The former name of New York City, first used in the mid-1620s. On 1 February…
New Beer’s Eve (April 6)
101.5 WPDH (Poughkeepsie, NY) What’s New Beer’s Eve and How’s the Hudson Valley Celebrating? Tigman Published: April 5, 2024 We never heard of this pseudo-holiday until recently. New…
New Braunfelser (inhabitant of New Braunfels)
"New Braunfelser” is the name of an inhabitant of New Braunfels, Texas. The city of New Braunfels was named after Braunfels, in Germany, and the Neu-Braunfelser Zeitung (now the New…
New Castrati
"New castrati" is a term used mostly by conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh has used the term since at least February 2006. Rush Limbaugh defined the "new…
New Directors/New Films
"New Directors/New Films" is the long-running companion to the New York Film Festival. It seeks out more political films, representing many of the countries of the world.…
New Duranty Times (New York Times nickname)
The New York Times newspaper has many critics who give it many nicknames. Since 2005, Robert Spencer's blogs Jihad Watch and Dhimmi Watch have called the newspaper "The New Duranty…
New England: Eel (nickname)
Eel fishing was very popular in New England in the 19th century. "The Yankees are called Eels" was cited in an 1834 newspaper. "The Eels of New-England" was cited in a passage…
New Hampshire: “Iowa picks corn, New Hampshire picks presidents”
New Hampshire likes to brag that its primary is more important that the Iowa caucus to the presidential election cycle. In 1988, Vice President George H. W. Bush lost the Iowa caucus to Kansas…
New Hampshire: “Live free or die” (motto)
"Live Free or Die" is the New Hampshire motto, approved in 1945 by its legislature after a suggestion by the Daughters of the American Revolution. New Hampshire's John Stark…
New Hampshire: Granite State (nickname)
New Hampshire was first called the "Granite State" at an honorary dinner for Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) on June 22, 1825. Philip Carrigain (1772-1842), a former secretary of state…
New Harlem East
The neighborhood nickname "New Harlem East" was used in a Wall Street Journal article on April 22, 2011. The name describes the area of East 125th Street in Manhattan that has been newly…
New International Order
Entry in progress -- B.P. New York (NY) TimesThe chance for a new world orderBy Henry A. KissingerPublished: Monday, January 12, 2009(...)Even the most affluent countries will confront shrinking…
New Jack City
"New Jack City" is a hip-hop term for New York City. The 1991 film of this name popularized the term, but also limited its use. If you say "New Jack City," people think…
New Jersey: “What did Delaware?”/“Her New Jersey.”
"What did Delaware?" ("What did Della wear?") is an old pun on the state name. "her New Jersey!" is the usual answer. "What did Delaware?" was asked in the…
New Jersey: Armpit of the Nation (nickname)
A city of a state that's not very pleasant might be called the "armpit of the nation" or the "armpit of America." Armpits smell. "The midwest is the armpit of the…