Potatosauce or Potato Sauce
Mashed apples are called "apple sauce" (or "applesauce"), but mashed potatoes are not called "potato sauce" (or "potatosauce"). Also, there are "mashed…
Origin of “The Whole Nine Yards”
Potemkin Journalism (Potemkin Journalist)
A "Potemkin village" is a fake one that's meant to deceive. Russian minister Grigory Potemkin is said to have built fake villages along the Dnieper River in 1787 so that Empress…
Potsy
"Potsy" is the New York City term for the game of "hopscotch" (or a variant of this game). "Pot" has been cited since at least 1884 and "potsie" since at…
Pottery Capital of the World (Marshall nickname)
The city of Marshall has several pottery stores and has called itself "Pottery Capital of the World" (or "Pottery Capital of Texas" or "Terra Cotta Capital of the…
Potty Parity (Women’s Restroom Equity Bill)
The 2005 "potty parity" law declares that there should be more women's than men's restrooms because women take longer to go. 3 December 2003, Associated Press, "'Potty…
POTUS (President Of The United States)
"POTUS" is an acronym for "President Of The United States." The shorter "POT" stood for "President of the" in the book The Phillips Telegraphic Code (1879)…
Poughkeepsie: Po-Town (nickname)
The city of Poughkeepsie, in Dutchess County, New York, often has its name written as "Po-town" or "Po'town." "Po-town" was cited in the Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal…
Poughkeepsie: Queen City of the Hudson (nickname)
The city of Poughkeepsie, in Dutchess County, New York, has been called the "Queen City of the Hudson (River)." Several cities were called the "Queen City of the Hudson" in the…
Pour le Bois (sandwich) & Pourbois (unsupported “po’ boy” French etymologies)
It's sometimes stated that the "po' boy or "poor boy" sandwich of New Orleans, Louisiana, originated from the French "pour le bois" or "pourbois." There…
Poverty Hollow
"Poverty Hollow" is an old name for the "Lower East Side." The name is not used today. 24 October 1899, New York Times, pg. 3:If Signor Nicola Galante is not the next…
Poverty Pimp (Povitician)
"Poverty pimp" is a term dating from at least 1970 to describe a person who claims to help people in poverty, but who actually helps himself or herself in the process. Often, a government…
Power Breakfast; Power Lunch
It's difficult to say the precise date and place when the "power breakfast" or the "power lunch" came into being. It appears that such "breakfast" and…
Power Elite
The term "power elite" was popularized by C. Wright Mills (1916-1962), a professor of sociology at Columbia University from 1946 until his death in 1962. Wright authored the book The…
Power of the Purse
The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse -- that is, Congress must authorize how money is raised and spent. The term "power of the purse" dates to at least the 1600s,…
Power Steak
The website Business Insider published "What's the best new 'power steak' in New York City?" by Melissa Stanger and Linette Lopez on March 25, 2015 and "Wall Street…
Prairie Fire (hot hors d’oeuvre)
"Prairie Fire" is the name of the hot hors d'oeuvre that was served by Helen Corbitt, of Neiman-Marcus fame, in the 1950s. Helen Corbitt's Cookbookby Helen CorbittBoston:…
Prairie Fire (Tabasco and tequila cocktail)
"Prairie Fire" is a hot cocktail of tequila and Tabasco sauce. It is not known where the drink originated. WikipediaCanadian Prairie Fire½ to 1 part Tabasco sauce 1 part Yukon Jack…
Prattsville: New York’s Mount Rushmore (nickname)
American businessman Zadock Pratt (1790-1871) helped found Prattsville, New York. Pratt's Rock, in Prattsville, was made in the 19th century and features stone carvings. Pratt's Rock has…
Pravda on the Hudson (New York Times nickname)
"Pravda on the Hudson" (or, hyohenated, "Pravda-on-the-Hudson") is an unflattering nickname of The New York Times newspaper. Pravda (Russian for "truth") was the…
Prawns and Scallops in a Love Nest
"Prawns and Scallops in a Love Nest" -- the "love nest" is an edible taro basket -- is a dish served at some Chinese-American restaurants. "Prawns and Scallops in a Love…