Adopt-a-Highway
Adopt-a-Highway programs began in Texas in 1984-1985. James R. "Bobby' Evans, an engineer at the Texas Department of Transportation, noticed the need for cleaner highways when he saw…
New York City
Adventures NYC
The Parks Department started "Adventures NYC" in 2005, with a second annual event in 2006. http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/events/output_pages/adventures_nyc.phpAdventures…
Adzillatron (Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium scoreboard nickname)
The giant scoreboard at the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium was dubbed "Godzillatron" by July 31, 2006. Texas Longhorn fans quickly criticized the many advertisements on the…
Aer Fungus or Air Fungus (Aer Lingus nickname)
Aer Lingus is the flag carrier of Ireland. Some people have nicknamed the airline "Aer Fungus" or "Air Fungus." "Air Lingus (EI) - Air Fungus" was posted on the…
Aeroflop (Aeroflot nickname)
Aeroflot was founded in 1923 and is the flag carrier for the Russian Federation. The obvious Aeroflot nickname of "Aeroflop" ("flop" is slang for "failure") has been…
Aerosplat (Aeroflot nickname)
Aeroflot was founded in 1923 and is the flag carrier for the Russian Federation. The obvious Aeroflot nickname of "Aerosplat" ("splat" is the sound made by a crash) has been…
Africa’s Big Apple (Lagos nickname)
The city of Lagos, Nigeria, is the most populous city in Africa. In June 2013, the state government in Lagos produced the video Lagos: Africa's Big Apple. Lagos is to Nigeria (and Africa) just…
African American Day Parade
The African American Day Parade literature states that it is the largest black parade in America. The parade is held up Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue), from 111 Street to 142…
African Diaspora Film Festival & African Diaspora Summer Film Series
The African Diaspora Film Festival began in 1993. Anthology Film Archives is the host in November 2006. In August 2006, Riverside Church presented the First Annual African Diaspora Summer Film…
Afterburners (Jalapeño Shrimp Poppers)
"Afterburners" (also called "jalapeño shrimp poppers") are jalapeño peppers stuffed with shrmp and wrapped with bacon, usually served with a spicy queso dip. "Jalapeño…
AG (Attorney General or Aspiring Governor)
The position of state attorney general is regarded as just below the governor. The joke that "A.G." stands for "Aspiring Governor" is cited in print from at least 1989, when a…
Agent Orange Corn (GE corn)
Dow Chemical manufactured "Agent Orange," a herbicide and defoliant that was widely used for clearing jungles in the Vietnam War. Dow AgroSciences attempted to introduce a genetically…
Agflation (agriculture + inflation)
"Agflation" (agriculture + inflation) means agricultural commodity price inflation. The Wall Street Journal, on April 30, 2007, credited the term to the financial firm of Merryl Lynch,…
Agg Town or Aggtown (Arlington nickname)
Agg Town (or Aggtown) is a hip-hop nickname for the city of Arlington, dating from about 2003. The nickname is confusing -- it has nothing to do with the Texas A&M Aggies. The origin of the…
Aggie (Texas A&M nickname)
"Aggie" is someone at Texas A&M. The nickname seems obvious enough. However, citations are rare before 1906. The Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland) used…
Aggie Jokes
When did Aggie jokes start to be told? Texas A&M is a distinguished institution; its students are certainly smart. Why all the jokes? There's a rivalry between the University of Texas and…
Aggie Punch
Aggie Punch is most likely named after the Texas A&M Aggies, although other "agricultural" colleges also use the Aggie nickname. The drink contains tequila, lime juice and…
Agita (Agida; Acida)
"Agita" achieved its greatest fame as a song title in the Woody Allen film Broadway Danny Rose (1984). The movie featured the Carnegie Deli and the "Agita" song mentioned…
AIDS Walk
New York City did not hold the first AIDS Walk, but the event in 1986 was one of the first. New York's annual AIDS Walk remains one of the biggest in terms of walkers and the amount of money…
Aimez-vous Glamis (name used to avoid the “Macbeth” curse)
William Shakespeare's play Macbeth includes witches, and theater tradition has it that the play is cursed. Saying the play's name or its lines (outside of an actual performance) is said…