Orange Julius & Orange Juice Gulch
Times Square used to be known as "Orange Juice Gulch." It appears that Walter Winchell coined this term in the New York Graphic in 1928. (Unfortunately, the New York Public Library…
Order Sniping (prank)
"Order sniping" is a prank popularized by Dominic Harris in his YouTube video, "Drive Thru Order Sniping Prank," published on December 19, 2013. The video appeared on the…
Organic Tanking
"Tanking" is when a sports team loses, usually with the intention of getting a high pick in the player draft after the season ends. Winning would probably not put the team in playoff…
Organized Team Activity (OTA)
Organized team activities (OTAs) are what professional football teams hold during the off-season. They are usually training sessions where teams learn the playbook and the techniques of their…
Orient Express or International Line (7 train)
The "Orient Express" is the 7 train that takes you to the many Asian neighborhoods of Queens. "International Line" is the "politically correct" term. The real…
ORIGINAL 9-11 SONG: “We Will Stand Together (United We Stand)”
Where is our 9-11 song? Where is the music video? I will always remember the first "Saturday Night Live" after 9-11. Could New York laugh again? Mayor Rudy Giuliani was there to open the…
Original Six (six oldest NHL teams)
The National Hockey League (NHL) had just six teams from 1942-43 until expansion in 1967. The six teams -- Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York…
Oscar (Academy Award)
The Academy Award was first awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) in 1929. The origin of the name "Oscar" for the Academy Award has long been contested.…
Oscars of Architecture (Architizer’s A+ Awards)
Architizer.com, an online architecture platform, is a New York City-based company that began in 2009. In October 2012, Architizer announced that it would have its first annual A+ architecture…
Oscars of Street Food (Vendy Awards nickname)
The Vendy Awards originated in 2005 in New York City to honor its street food vendors. The "Vendys" (as spelled on the official website, but "Vendies" has also been used) soon…
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…