Necklace Lighting (“necklace lights” on suspension bridges)
The lights on the cables of New York's suspension bridges look like necklaces at night. The "necklace lighting" began on the Triborough Bridge and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (in 1964);…
Needle Park
"Needle Park" was originally located near the subway stop at Broadway and West 70th Street (Sherman Square), named in the 1960s by the narcotics addicts who used needles there. A February…
Negative Ned (Negative Nancy; Negative Nellie/Negative Nelly)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)negative, adj., adv.2, and int.colloquial (originally U.S.). Preceding a forename beginning with N, forming a generic name for a person who is…
Negimaki or Negimayaki
Japanese food is booming here and this is one of the early New York City classics--or is it? According to John Mariani's Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink (1979): "The word is from…
Negro National Anthem (now called Black National Anthem)
Wikipedia: life Every Voice and Sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a hymn with lyrics by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson…
Neocon Spying Agency (National Security Agency or NSA nickname)
The National Security Agency was formed in 1962 to improve foreign intelligence within the United States government. The agency was so secret (especially in its early years) that even its existence…
Neoconette
A "neoconette" is a female "neocon" (neoconservative). Neocons can be both male and female, so the term "neoconette" is a somewhat jocular usage.…
Neoconistan (neoconservative + -stan)
"Noeconistan" (neocon/neoconservative + -stan) is either a place where neoconservatives live or work (such as a think tank or a magazine or a blog), or a country affected by…
Neoconner (neocon + conner)
"Neoconner" (neocon + conner) was the headline of a Leslie H. Gelb book review in the New York (NY) Times on April 27, 2008, about Aram Roston's book,The Man Who Pushed America to…
Neopolism (neologism + politics)
A "neopolism" (neologism + polictics) is a new political word. "Neopolism is the word we use around here to designate a neologism with a political bent" is from Time magazine in…
Neotard (neoconservative + retard)
"Neotard" (neoconservative + retard) is an epithet used by some against neoconservatives or "neocons." "Neotard" has been cited in print since at least May 2002 and…
Neptune Platter or Neptune’s Platter (seafood platter)
Neptune was the god of freshwater and the sea in Roman religion. Many American restaurants have named their seafood plates the "Neptune Platter" or "Neptune's Platter."…
Nerd Prom (White House Correspondents’ Dinner)
The White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner began in 1920 and evolved into a press comedy roast of the president. Ana Marie Cox, a founding editor of the political blog Wonkette,…
Nerdstrom or Nerdstorm (Nordstrom nickname)
Nordstrom is a fashion retail chain that began in the early 1900s in Seattle, Washington. Nordstorm doesn't seemingly have any direct appeal for nerds, but the store has infrequently been…
Nervous Nellie (Nervous Nelly)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: nervous NellieNounnervous Nellie (plural nervous Nellies)1. (informal) A person whose personality and behavior are characterized by worry, insecurity, and…
Nervous Pudding (jello)
"Nervous pudding" has been a popular nickname for Jell-O because it shakes when it's handed off from the server. "'Don't get upset, Marge, calm your nerves with some…
Net Worthless (net worth + worthless)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Urban Dictionarynet-worthlessadj. - 1) lacking a single asset, broke, -ness, the condition of being net-worthless 2) lacking the ability to build valueA recent balance and…
Netroots
"Netroots" (Internet + grassroots) was used in 1993 and 1994, but was popularized in December 2002 by Jerome Armstrong, who then advocated "Netroots for Dean in 2004"…
Never A Straight Answer (NASA nickname)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) did not have a good reputation among news reporters in the 1960s. "Redefining the acronym NASA to mean 'Never A Straight…
Never Again Volunteer Yourself (“navy” backronym)
"Never Again Volunteer Yourself" is a backronym (back acronym) of the word "navy" that has been printed on several gift items, such as bumper stickers, T-shirts and posters.…