Oscars of the East Coast (Met Gala nickname)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has held an annual fundraiser since 1948, called the Costume Institute Gala, but usually known as the "Met Gala" or "Met…
Oscars of the Plus Industry (Full Figured Fashion Week nickname)
New York City has been the host of Full Figured Fashion Week since the 2000s. "Oscar" (Academy Award) has sometimes been used to describe a special event in other industries. Full Figured…
OST (Original Sound Track)
There are several theater initials: OBC = Original Broadway Cast (1994; Urban Dictionary, 2006)OBCR = Original Broadway Cast Recording (1994; Urban Dictionary, 2005)OOBC = Original Off-Broadway…
Ostrich Economics
People who refuse to see what is happening are compared to the ostrich, an animal that -- according to the myth -- buries its head in the sand. "Ostrich economics" is a policy promoted by…
Othello (chocolate-covered sponge cake)
Brooklyn's Ebinger's Bakery operated from 1898 until 1972; a bakery revived the Ebinger's name briefly in 1982. "Othello" was a signature product, but the recipe was never…
Otto (football linebacker position)
"Sam, Mike and Will" (strongside, middle and weakside) are popular linebacker names, but there is also "Otto." The name "Otto" was coined by Jacksonville Jaguars head…
Our Savior Has Arrived (Occupational Safety & Health Administration or OSHA nickname)
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) was created in the Occupational Health and Safety Act signed into law on December 20, 1970, to issue and enforce standards for workplace…
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
An "out-of-pocket" expense or cost is something that someone has to pay himself or herself. For example, on a business trip, there could be out-of-pocket expenses such as gas and meals.…
Outer Boroughs
Manhattan is one borough of five, but the other four (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) are often called the "outer boroughs." The term "outer boroughs" was used…
OuterB or Outerb (Outer Borough)
"OuterB" is a Queens real estate blog that was named in January 2006. "OuterB" stands for "outer borough" (i.e., not the borough of Manhattan). The term has been…
Outhouse Steakback (Outback Steakhouse nickname)
Outback Steakhouse is a restaurant chain that began in Tampa, Florida, in 1988. The nickname "Outhouse Steakback" is a ""spoonerism" (or transposition) of the compunds…
Over For America (Organizing For America or OFA nickname)
Barack Obama's organization for his presidential run in 2008 was called 'Obama For America" (OFA). When Obama became president in January 2009, the organization was renamed…
Overdoughse (overdose + dough)
"Overdoughse" (overdose + dough) is a jocular word to describe what might occur from eating too much cookie/pizza dough. "Approaching cookie overdoughse" was posted on Twitter…
Overkrauted (too much sauerkraut)
"Sauerkraut" gave the word "kraut" (for "German"). "Overkrauted" -- like "overcrowded" -- can mean too many Germans or too much sauerkraut.…
Oxford English Dictionary “Big Apple” definition (September 2008)
In September 2008, the Oxford English Dictionary added a full "Big Apple" definition. I contributed to some of this, but did not write the definition. (I wasn't even given a…
Oxygin (oxygen + gin)
"Oxygin" (oxygen + gin) and "hydrogin" (hydrogen + gin) are jocular terms. A now-classic joke was printed in Manners: A Novel by Miss Francis Moore: "Every body learns…
Oysgezoomt
Zoom video communications became popular in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. The Yiddish word "oysgezoomt" (fatigued or bored by Zoom) was coined, "New Yiddish-English…
Oyster Bar
The Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant (at Grand Central Terminal at 42nd Street) opened in 1913 and is one of the world's most famous oyster bars. Before this establishment, the Grand…
Oyster Stew (Christmas Eve Oyster Stew)
Oyster stew is cited in print from at least 1843. Oysters are traditionally served in the "R" months when the weather gets cold (that is, not May, June, July, or August, all months…
Oysters Bienville
Oysters Bienville is a dish named after Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville (1680--1767), often called the "Father of New Orleans." The oysters are covered in a mixture of shrimp,…