New York City

Back Door Sweep

A seven-game series "sweep" is when a sports team wins four straight games, losing none. A five-game series "sweep" is when a team wins three straight games, losing none.…

Back Page (East Flatbush, Brooklyn)

"Front Page" is the nickname for the area of East Flatbush, Brooklyn at Foster Avenue and Nostrand Avenue, at the Vanderveer Estates apartment buildings. Crime was so bad that drug…

Backdoor Sweep

A seven-game series "sweep" is when a sports team wins four straight games, losing none. A five-game series "sweep" is when a team wins three straight games, losing none.…

Backstop

To "backstop" (or "back stop") something is to support or back up or bolster it. A monetary "backstop" is financial support against bankruptcy or other financial…

Bacon and Eggs

"Bacon and eggs" is one of the most popular breakfast dishes in America. The United States got this breakfast tradition from England, where "bacon and eggs" as a breakfast dish…

Baconalia (bacon + bacchanalia)

"Baconalia" (bacon + bacchanalia) is a festival that celebrates bacon, just as the bacchanalia celebrates drink and the Greco-Roman god Bacchus (or Dionysus). The term…

Baconify

"Baconify" means to add bacon to something. "Baconify" has been cited in print since at least December 7, 2003, when the word was added to the Urban Dictionary. A term similar…

Baconize

"Baconize" means to add bacon to something. "Baconize" was cited in print in 1940. but has become popular since 2005, when the word was added to the Urban Dictionary. A term…

Badgehole (SXSW festival nickname)

"Badgehole" (badge + asshole) is an epithet used by some at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, held annually in Austin. There are badges to get into events, but these are usually…

Bag Lady

Lily Tomlin got the character of the "bag lady" exactly right. Her performance should be available on video somewhere. The Historical Dictionary of American Slang has: "Orig. N.Y.C.…

Bag of Mystery (sausage)

Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary_bag of mystery n. (usually in pl. bags of mystery) slang a sausage or saveloy.1864 J. C. Hotten Slang Dict. (new ed.) 69. 1879 W. J. Barry Up…

Bagdad-on-the-Subway

"Bagdad-on-the-Subway" was O. Henry's nickname for New York City. Other writers soon called it "Bagdad on the Hudson." The nickname is about 100 years old and does not…

Bagel Ball (Bantam Bagel)

Entry in progress -- B.P Bantam BagelsBantam Bagels are mini, filled bagel balls!Bantam Bagels is different than any other New York bagel shop. Why? Because at Bantam Bagels we produce fresh,…