Moscow on the Hudson (Upper West Side)
Moscow on the Hudson (1984) was a memorable movie that starred Robin Williams. For Republicans, the upper west side of Manhattan ("on the Hudson" river) is a bleak area, indeed. The…
Origin of “Canuck” (“Johnny Canuck”)
Moscow-on-the-Brazos (Austin nickname)
Austin is known to be more liberal than the rest of the state of Texas. "Moscow-on-the-Brazos" is a seldom used nickname for the town, borrowed from "Moscow on the Hudson…
Moses’ Law: Don’t eat in park concessions!
John Hess developed "Moses' Law" (after Robert Moses, the Parks Commissioner) in his New York Times column in August 1973. Actually, the food at some places (such as the Tennis…
Most Air-Conditioned City in the Nation (Houston slogan)
"Houston's hot," as the saying goes. Since the 1940s, to attract tourists and conventions, Houston has promoted itself as "the most air-conditioned city in the nation." No…
Most Effective Devil In America (“media” backronym)
"Most Effective Devil In America" is a backronym (back acronym) of the word "media" that has been printed on many images. "M.E.D.I.A- Most Effective Devil In America"…
Most Exciting Team in Sports (New York Mets nickname)
The New York Mets baseball team was founded in 1962. The "METS" backronym of "Most Exciting Team in Sports" has been used infrequently since at least 2000. "My Entire Team…
Mostly Mozart
Lincoln Center's "Mostly Mozart" festival includes music mostly by Mozart, but also by Haydn and Schubert. The series began in 1966.…
Mother In Love with Fitness (MILF)
"MILF" usually stands for "Mother/Mom/Mama I'd Like to Fuck." "Mothers In Love with Fitness" was trademarked with a first use date of September 24, 2006.…
Mother Merrill (Merrill Lynch nickname)
The Merrill Lynch brokerage firm was affectionately called "Mother Merrill" by its employees. "Mother" Merrill Lynch trained its brokers and treated them well, frowning on any…
Mother Of All Short Squeezes (MOASS)
Finance has its short squeezes, and a very large one is called the "Mother Of All Short Squeezes" (MOASS). "Dan Dorfman, CNBC's financial correspondent, reported a money…
Mother of Texas (Jane Long)
Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (1798-1880) was called the "mother of Texas" by at least 1894. Long came to Texas in 1819 and was one of the first Anglo women (although not the very first) in…
Mother-in-Law of the Army (San Antonio nickname)
San Antonio is home to Fort Sam Houston and other military bases. So many military men (including Dwight D. Eisenhower) married women while serving in the San Antonio area that the city has been…
Mother-in-Law Sandwich (tamale with chili, usually in a hot dog bun)
A "mother-in-law sandwich" is -- according to an old joke that dates back to at least the early 1950s -- cold shoulder and tongue. The currently popular "mother-in-law sandwich"…
Mother-in-Law Sandwich (tongue on rye; cold shoulder and lots of tongue)
A "mother-in-law sandwich" -- yet another mother-in-law joke -- usually contains the jocular ingredients of "tongue on rye" or "cold shoulder and tongue.' The sandwich…
Motherfuckers Touching my Ass (Metropolitan Transportation Authority or MTA nickname)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates the subways and buses in New York City. The Scissor Sisters are a New York-based band, and the lyrics in its song "Let's Have a…
Motherless Greens (greens without meat)
Collard greens and pork are typical parts of Southern cuisine and "soul food." When people couldn't afford meat, the greens served by themselves were dubbed "motherless."…
Motor City or Motown (Detroit nicknames)
Ford's first "Model T" was introduced in 1908. Within ten years, the city had earned the nickname "Motor City." I contributed the 1919 citation to the Oxford English…
Mount Bonnell (place name)
Mount Bonnell is a popular tourist destination in Austin, offering excellent views. It had long been thought that the name came from George W. Bonnell (?-1842), who moved to Austin in 1839 and…
Mount Vernon: Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon (nickname)
"Money Makin’ Manhattan" is a similar rap nickname. Wikipedia: Mount VernonMount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is an inner suburb of New York…
Mountain Oyster (or Prairie Oyster)
"Mountain oysters" (also called "Rocky Mountain oysters" or "prairie oysters" or "calf fries," among many other names) are the testicles of animals,…