Sanctuary City
A "sanctuary city" in the United States is one where the city protects illegal immigrants from certain practices, such as asking about a person's legal status. The term…
Sanctuary Restaurant
A "sanctuary restaurant" is based on the concept of a "sanctuary city." The website sanctuaryrestaurants.org, a joint project of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC)…
Santa Claus & Sidewalk Santas
What would Christmas be without New York City? "A Visit From St. Nicholas," also known from its first line of "'Twas the night before Christmas," was published in 1822. It…
Santa Claus Curse (New York Mets)
The New York Mets hold an annual Christmas party for New York City schoolchildren. The "Santa Claus curse" holds that the Mets player who dresses up as Santa Claus the following year…
Saratoga: “Health, History, Horses” (slogan)
"WELCOME TO SARATOGA SPRINGS -- HEALTH HISTORY HORSES" is what greets people on several signs in Saratoga Springs, New York. "Health" refers to the springs and spas of the city.…
Saratoga: “Pearly gates of horse racing” (Saratoga Race Course)
New York State's Saratoga Race Course has been compared to heaven and is sometimes called the "pearly gates of horse racing." "Home sweet Saratoga. RT @anthonyderico: The Pearly…
Saratoga: Big Apple (New York racing circuit including the Saratoga Race Course)
The term "Big Apple" usually refers to the racetracks of New York City (and, by extension, the city itself), but the racetrack term sometimes includes the Saratoga Race Course at Saratoga…
Satan Sandwich
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) called a July 2011 budget deal that he didn't like “a sugar-coated Satan sandwich.” There had been infrequent previous printed citations for "Satan…
Satan’s Circus
Another name for the "Tenderloin" area of Manhattan, just below "Hell's Kitchen," is "Satan's Circus." The term is historical and is not used today, but…
Satan’s Seat
New York City has sometimes been called "Satan's Seat." "The late sensation in New York (where Satan's seat is) has roused us to a fresh conception of his terrific reign…
Saturday Night Liberal (Saturday Night Live or SNL nickname)
Saturday Night Live (SNL) is an American late-night live television sketch comedy that originated in 1975 and is broadcast from New York City. Many conservatives have argued that SNL has a liberal…
Saturday Night Special
A "Saturday night special" (or "blitzkrieg") is a surprise takeover attempt. In 1975, Colt Industries (manufacturer of guns) attempted what would be a successful takeover of…
Sauce Proposal (Proposal Sauce)
American chef Marc Forgione opened Restaurant Marc Forgione at 134 Reade Street in Manhattan. "Halibut en Croute, Hazelnuts, Sauce Proposal" is a popular dish, and many diners have…
Sausage Sandwich
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksThe True Story of My Life: A SketchBy Hans Christian AndersenTranslated by Mary HowittLondon: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans1847Pp. 37-38:A few women, who…
Savile Row (bespoke tailoring in NoHo/Nolita/West Village)
Savile Row is a shopping street in central London famous for its traditional men's bespoke tailoring. An April 12, 2012 article on the Business Insider website was titled "A Bespoke…
Sawdust Pie
A recipe for "sawdust pie' was published in the May 1983 issue of Bon Appetit, from Patti's 1880's Settlement of Grand Rivers, KY. The pie contains graham cracker crumbs (the…
Sawdust Trail (Sawdust Circuit)
The "sawdust trail" (or "sawdust circuit") refers to the churches that preachers traveled to in the early 1900s. The trail to these tabernacles was usually covered with sawdust,…
Scalpel vs. Machete (budget-cutting techniques)
There are two metaphorical tools that politicians claim to use in cutting a budget -- a scalpel (for small, surgical cuts, causing the least harm) and a machete (for massive cuts). Unless the…
Scamdemic (scam + pandemic)
"Scamdemic" (scam + pandemic) means a fake pandemic. The term was first used during the 2009 swine flu pandemic. "Wondering if #swineflu is really a pandemic, or is it a hamdemic or…
Scampaign (scam + campaign)
A "scampaign" (scam + campaign) is a campaign -- a political campaign or a campaign for a specific cause or business -- that contains fraud and can be called a "scam."…