Poor Boy (four lane undivided highway)
A "poor boy highway" is a four-lane undivided highway (usually converted from a two-lane highway, with paved shoulders). It's a "poor boy's" way to make a four-lane…
New York City
Poor Boy Sandwich (Po’ Boy Sandwich)
The "poor boy" ("po' boy") sandwich began in New Orleans, about 1929, when it was popularized (or coined) by Benny and Clovis Martin. It's another regional sandwich…
Poor Door
New York City grants tax breaks to developers who set aside a certain portion of their buildings for affordable housing. An Extell building at 40 Riverside Boulevard, between 61st and 62nd streets,…
Poor Little Rich Girl
The Poor Little Rich Girl (1912) was a play by Eleanor Gates (1875-1951), later made into a film starring Mary Pickford in 1917 and one for Shirley Temple in 1936. Although the young girl of the…
Poor Man’s Butter (avocado)
The avocado was called the "poor man's butter" in Latin American countries, where the rich, buttery texture and mild nutty flavor was used in place of butter fat. "Poor…
Poor Man’s Fertilizer (snow)
Snow -- especially a late snow in the spring -- has long been called the "poor man's manure" or "poor man's fertilizer." The snow contains nitrogen that helps plant…
Poor Man’s Gold (silver nickname)
Silver is sometimes called the "poor man's gold" because silver is cheaper to buy. The term "poor man's gold" was used in 1932 by Rene Leon, but other metals (copper,…
Poor Man’s Harvard (CCNY nickname)
City College of New York used to be known with pride as the "poor man's Harvard." The nickname was popular in the 1930s-1950s. Valparaiso University (Indiana) had used this nickname…
Poor Man’s Manure (snow)
Snow -- especially a late snow in the spring -- has long been called the "poor man's manure" or "poor man's fertilizer." The snow contains nitrogen that helps plant…
Poor Man’s Miami Beach (Brighton Beach)
Brighton Beach attracted an elderly population (who, seemingly, couldn't afford to go to Miami Beach). The nickname "poor man's Miami Beach" has been applied to Brighton Beach…
Poor Man’s Oyster (mussel; snail; clam)
There have been many seafood claims on the term "poor man's oyster," with mussels, snails and clams all claiming the title. ("Poor man's oyster" is also the name of a…
Poor Man’s Perrier (seltzer or club soda)
Perrier is a brand of bottled mineral water from France that is sold in green bottles. Several drinks have been called the "poor man's Perrier." Seltzer has been called "poor…
Poor Man’s Riviera (Coney Island)
Coney Island has provided a beach and entertainment for everyone -- rich and poor alike. The nickname "poor man's Riviera" (or "working man's Riviera" or…
Poor Man’s Virus (COVID-19)
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic has been called a "poor person's virus" and, occasionally, a "poor man's virus." A rich person can isolate, while a poor person…
Poor Old Nigger Thinks It’s A Cadillac (Pontiac backronymic nickname)
Pontiac is an automobile brand that began in 1926 and was discontinued by General Motors in 2010. The name "Pontiac" was associated with a racial slur backronym (back acronym) --…
Poor Person’s Virus (COVID-19)
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic has been called a "poor person's virus." A rich person can isolate, while a poor person might have to work in dangerous conditions. A rich person…
Poor, Hungry and Determined (“Ph.D.” backronym)
"Poor, hungry and determined" is a jocular backronym (back acronym) for "Ph.D." "Poor, hungry and determined (PHD)" was printed in The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)…
Poor, Hungry and Driven (“Ph.D.” backronym)
"Poor, hungry and driven" is a jocular backronym (back acronym) for "Ph.D." Mario Gabelli, founder of Gabelli Asset Management Company Investors in Rye, New York, said in the…
Poor, Hungry Doctor (“Ph.D.” backronym)
A doctor can hold a Ph.D. degree or an M.D. degree. However, someone with an M.D. (medicine) is more likely to make more money than someone with a Ph.D. in English literature. A popular saying…
Pop-Up Bar
A "pop-up bar" is a bar that is intended to be temporary, such as one for a concert or for a sporting event (such as the Olympics). "Pop-up bar" has been cited in print since at…