Big Auger
A "big auger" is an old west term for a "big shot." The term appears in western stories, such as those by Andy Adams (around 1900). A senator or governor or mayor or ranch owner…
New York City
Big Bad Apple (Big Apple + bad apple)
New York City is sometimes called the "Big Bad Apple," a combination of "Big Apple" and "bad apple" (as in "every barrel has a few bad apples"). Early…
Big Belly (trash compactor)
"Big Belly" has been introduced to New York City. It's a new, solar-powered trash can that could be on a corner near you. "Big Belly" is a trade name by Seahorse Power…
Big Blue Apple (Big Blue + Big Apple)
"Big Blue Apple" (Big Blue + Big Apple) is what New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg called New York City in February 2012, during the celebration for the Super Bowl-winning New York…
Big Blue; Big Blue Wrecking Crew
"Big Blue" is the nickname for the New York Giants football club, who used to play in Yankee Stadium, but who now play in Giants Stadium in...ahhh...New Jersey. There are other "Big…
Big Board
The New York Stock Exchange refers to itself as "the Big Board." The name is over 100 years old. 2 November 1897, Chicago Daily Tribune, pg. 1: Old Stock Exchange men agree that there…
Big Brother Corporation (BBC nickname)
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is a channel that is available on many cable systems around the world. The BBC has been given the backronym (back acronym) of "Big Brother…
Big Brothers (Big Sisters)
The "Big Brother" organization got its start in New York City in 1904. The organization now includes "Big Sisters." The honorary street sign on East 30th Street and Third Avenue…
Big Brown (United Parcel Service or UPS nickname)
The United Parcel Service (UPS) has used brown-painted vehicles since the 1920s. The nickname 'Big Brown" for UPS has been cited in print since at least the 1980s. In February 2002, UPS…
Big Burg
"Big Burg" is a nickname for New York City (and other big cities) that was popular in the early 1900s, before the "Big Apple" 1920s citations. (Oxford English Dictionary)burg,…
Big Cave
Willie Morris (1934-1999) was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and became editor of Harper's magazine in 1967. An article in the June 1967 Harper's was titled "A provincial in New York:…
Big Cheese
"Big cheese" was a popular slang term in the 1900s, almost two decades before the "Big Apple" became popular in the 1920s. "Big cheese" is cited in print from at least…
Big Chilli (summary)
Thai cooking uses many types of chili peppers. Bangkok (Thailand's capital) is sometimes called the "Big Chilli," mainly because of a magazine by that name that was started in 1999.…
Big Country
In January 1966, the Abilene (TX) Reporter-News held a contest to name its special area of Texas. The winning name (selected by several people) was "Big Country." The Big Country had been…
Big Crapple
For those who think "the Big Apple" is a load of crap, there's always "the Big Crapple." http://www.yaleherald.com/archive/xxvi/12.4.98/ae/1999.htmlThe Big Crapple?…
Big Crescent (New Orleans nickname)
The city of New Orleans, Louisiana, is very infrequently called the "Big Crescent" (Big City/Big Easy + Crescent City). The "big crescent" is the shape of the Mississippi River,…
Big D (Dallas, Texas nickname)
"Big D," a nickname of Dallas, Texas, has been cited in print since at least the January 15, 1933, when it was printed in the Dallas (TX) Morning News. Texas broadcaster Lee Myres…
Big Dance (NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship)
The "Big Dance" (also called "March Madness") is the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The NCAA has trademarked "Big Dance" since 2002, but "big dance"…
Big Durian (summary)
"Big Durian" is sometimes said to be the nickname of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. However, it doesn't show up in most newspaper databases until the 2003 film, The Big Durian. Wikipedia:…
Big Easy (New Orleans nickname)
"The Big Easy" (a nickname of New Orleans, Louisiana) is related to "the Big Apple" (a nickname of New York City). There was a dance hall in Gretna (across the river from New…