“No more free lunch!” (Fiorello La Guardia)
Mayor Fiorello La Guardia allegedly said "No more free lunch!" -- in Italian, no less ("E finita la cuccagna!") -- at his 1934 inauguration. It was a declaration against…
“Oh, you like NYC? Name every rat”
New York City has a lot of rats. Some people name them. "Oh you live in NYC??? Name every rat" was posted on X/Twitter by zitro on October 31, 2019. "oh you’re from NY? name every…
“On Line” (not “in line”)
New Yorkers say "on line" where other Americans say "in line." The Dictionary of American Regional English, volume III I-O, has this on page 877: in phr. on line: In line.…
“People who use public phone boxes are either buying drugs or having an affair”
There aren't many public phone boxes still around; people usually carry a mobile phone -- or two. "Fact: People who use public phone boxes are either buying drugs or having an…
“Plastic bags are the tumbleweeds of New York City”
Plastic bags have been described as "urban tumbleweeds." "Ahhh, plastic bags, the urban tumbleweed. - Ant" was posted on Twitter by EastBayAnt on April 8, 2008. "Black…
“Play west of the Hudson (River)”
"(Can't/Won't) play west of the Hudson (River)" means that something is too "New York" to succeed in the rest of the country. The comedian Alan King was often told…
“Popping a cell” (Rikers slang)
New York magazine published a cover story about the Rikers Island correctional facility on June 28, 2015. A recent inmate explained what "popping" a cell means: "I learned how to get…
“Practically everybody in New York has half a mind to write a book, and does”
"Practically everybody in New York has half a mind to write a book, and does" is a witty line that was credited to editor Bill Targ (1907-1999) in 1946. "The trouble with the…
“She said to kiss her where it smells bad, so I took her to New Jersey”
New Yorkers have jokes about New Jersey. One popular joke is: "A young couple were making out passionately in a car when the girl said, 'Oh, oh, kiss me where it smells so bad!" So…
“Shut up, Brooklyn”
The snarky website Gawker.com published a story on February 22, 2008 titled: "Report: Williamsburg Not As Cool As It Was, Earth Revolves Around Sun." TheHonJudgeSmalls commented:…
“So this is Flushing”
The Halleran family ("The real estate man") has a longstanding Queens real estate business. One popular slogan was: "So this is Flushing." A publication titled So this is…
“Someone asked me for directions, so you can call me a real New Yorker”
It's sometimes believed that one isn't a real New Yorker until he or she gives someone directions. "I just educated 2 people about local and limited busses and gave someone…
“Somewhere between living and dreaming, there’s New York City”
"Somewhere between living and dreaming, there's New York (City)" is a New York City saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is unknown. "Somewhere between living…
“Somewhere between living and dreaming, there’s New York”
"Somewhere between living and dreaming, there's New York (City)" is a New York City saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is unknown. "Somewhere between living…
“Stop complaining about your life. There are literally people living in New York City”
"Stop complaining about your life. There are literally people living in California/Florida/Illinois/New York" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Stop complaining…
“Stop complaining about your life. There’s literally people living in the Bronx”
Many people don't like the Bronx. This was posted on X/Twitter by IG:@illrecognizeill on February 13, 2020, and is of unknown authorship: "Stop complaining about your life. There’s…
“Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.” (USS New York motto)
The USS New York was added to the United States Navy fleet in 2009 with the motto, "Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget." The ship was made with steel from New York…
“That’s how we do it in Brooklyn” (“This is how we do it in Brooklyn”)
"This Is How We Do It" was a 1995 song by Montell Jordan. The lyrics referred to south central Los Angeles, not Brooklyn. "This is how we do it in Brooklyn" has been cited in…
“The Bronx is burning” (1972; alleged Howard Cosell quote during the 1977 World Series)
"Ladies and Gentleman, the Bronx is burning" is the title of a 2005 book. It's from a alleged quote by the late Howard Cosell during a World Series game on October 12, 1977. The…
“The Central Park Zoo should be named ‘Zoo York’”
Could New York City's Central Park Zoo have a better name? "Zoo York" is the name of a subway tunnel that runs under the Central Park Zoo. "The Central Park Zoo should be named…