Sprinkles (Jimmies)
New York is a "sprinkle" town. If you call them "jimmies," you're probably the type of person who roots for the Boston Red Sox. I found the earliest citation for…
Sprinter (spring + winter)
"Sprinter" (spring + winter) is a portmanteau word that has been printed on many images. "Sprummer" (spring + summer) is a related term. Wiktionary: sprinterEtymologyBlend of…
Sprite Airlines (Spirit Airlines nickname)
Spirit Airlines is an American ultra-low-cost carrier. Some people rearrange the letters a bit and call it "Sprite Airlines." "Ppl Never take Sprite airlines it the worst airline I…
Sprots (misspelling of “sports”)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google Groups: rec.video.satellite.tvroNeed new C-Band subscription, HELPPaul Dowgewicz 6/11/01(...) The problem I have with NPS is that you have to buy Fox Sprots…
Sprummer (spring + summer)
"Sprummer" (spring + summer) is a portmanteau word that has been printed on many images. "Sprinter" (spring + winter) is a related term. Wiktionary: sprummer EtymologyBlend of…
Spucky, Spuckie or Spukie (sandwich)
Entry in progress -- B.P. The long list of the names of sandwiches served on long rolls includes blimpie, bomber, Cuban (medianoche), Dagwood, garibaldi, gondola, grinder, hero, hoagie, Italian,…
Sputniks (Metropolitan Opera House chandeliers)
The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center has "starburst" chandeliers than many have called "Sputniks," after the Russian satellite. The chandeliers were a gift from the…
Square Meal
"Square meal" is a term that appears to have originated in California by 1856. It is sometimes claimed that "square meal" comes from England's Royal Navy (where meals were…
Srirachapocalypse (Sriracha sauce + apocalypse)
Sriracha is a hot sauce named after a city in Thailand and composed of chili peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic, sugar and salt. Huy Fong Foods (the company that manufactures Sriracha) opened a…
SRO (Single Room Occupancy)
"SRO" first meant "standing room only," in the 1890s. Later, in the 1930s and 1940s, "SRO" was used to mean "single room occupancy." Both meanings of…
SRO (Standing Room Only)
"SRO" first meant "standing room only," in the 1890s. Later, in the 1930s and 1940s, "SRO" was used to mean "single room occupancy." Both meanings of…
St. Paul Sandwich
The St. Paul sandwich is a sandwich that contains egg. The original "St. Paul" sandwich dates to the 1890s, and a "St. Paul" sandwich (or "egg foo young" sandwich) has…
St. Wapniacl (Cabinet mnemonic)
"St. Wapniacl" was the old mnemonic to remember the offices of the President of the United States' Cabinet. It was arranged in order of creation and importance: State, Treasury, War,…
Stable Row
New York has (or had) more than one "stable row." The "stable row" near the famous Dakota building, on Amsterdam Avenue from 75th to 77th Streets, failed to be landmarked in…
Stage Mother
A "stage mother" is the mother of a stage performer -- usually a daughter. The stereotypical stage mother does everything to make her child a star. A classic description is of the mothers…
Stairway to Heaven
A "stairway to heaven" is a stairway outside of a residential building, usually leading to the second flour. The stairway provides a place to sit, but many consider the architecture to be…
Stairway to Nowhere (nickname of Vessel at Hudson Yards)
"Vessel" is the name of the Thomas Heatherwick-designed structure at the Hudson Yards on the West Side of Manhattan, opened on March 15, 2019. The honeycomb-like structure has 154 flights…
Stalingrad & Poorski (Standard & Poor’s nickname)
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) is one of the “big three” credit-rating agencies, along with Moody’s and Fitch. The financial blog Zero Hedge gave the company a Soviet-style nickname in a…
Stand and Deliver (singing with limited theatrical movement)
"Park and bark" refers to when a singer -- especially in an opera -- parks in a certain place and barks out the music. Modern performances try to eliminate "park-and-bark" by…
Standard American Diet (SAD)
Food authors have discussed the term "standard American diet" in print since at least the 1930s. The name "Standard American Diet" and its acronym "S.A.D." have been…