Texas (Lone Star State Dictionary)

San Antonio Blight (San Antonio Light nickname)

The San Antonio Light was an afternoon newspaper that was published from 1881 until 1993. The Light was a long-running competitor of the San Antonio Express-News (nicknamed San Antonio…

San Francisco of the South (Austin nickname)

The city of Austin has been called the "San Francisco of the South" (or "San Francisco of the Southwest"). Austin, like San Francisco, is a city whose residents have liberal…

San Jacinto Corn

Most of the corn of Texas can be traced to the corn acquired at the victorious Battle of San Jacinto (1836). The soldiers had wanted to call it Houston corn, but Sam Houston urged them to call it…

San Juan Hill; The Gut

"San Juan Hill" and "The Gut" are old names for the west side of Manhattan. "San Juan Hill" dates immediately after the Spanish American War and the taking of San Juan…

San Man

The 1954 hit song "Mr. Sandman" was performed by The Chordettes, with words and music by Pat Ballard. There's no exact date to pinpoint, but some time after that, a man who worked…

San Marcan (inhabitant of San Marcos)

"San Marcan” is the name of an inhabitant of San Marcos, Texas. The name “San Marcan” has been cited in print since at least 1911. Wikipedia: San Marcos, TexasSan Marcos is a city in the…

San Marvelous (San Marcos nickname)

The city of San Marcos is located between the cities of Austin and San Antonio, and is the home of Texas State University. The pleasant nickname "San Marvelous" -- surprisingly, not…

Sand and Jello (San Angelo nickname)

"Sand and jello" has been a seldom-used nickname for the city of San Angelo since at least 2006. "Sand-and-jello" sounds similar to "San Angelo." There is no serious…

Sand Hog (Sandhog)

It's either "sand hog" or "sandhog." The men who built our bridges and tunnels have a name. Surpisingly, this doesn't appear in Irving Lewis Allen's City in Slang…

Santa Claus & Sidewalk Santas

What would Christmas be without New York City? "A Visit From St. Nicholas," also known from its first line of "'Twas the night before Christmas," was published in 1822. It…

Santa Claus Curse (New York Mets)

The New York Mets hold an annual Christmas party for New York City schoolchildren. The "Santa Claus curse" holds that the Mets player who dresses up as Santa Claus the following year…

Santa Fe Salad

What is a "Santa Fe salad" and how is it different from a "Southwest salad"? Is it simply called a "Southwest Salad" if you walk into McDonald's and a "Santa…