Socialistacrat (socialist + Sandinista + bureaucrat)
"Socialistacrat" (socialist + Sandinista + bureaucrat) is a term that some on the political far right use to describe some on the political far left. "Our current socialistacrat…
Sock Hop (Sox Hop)
A "sock hop" (or "sox hop") is where the dancers take off their shoes and dance in their socks. This preserves both shoes and the dance floor. "Sock hop" dances were…
Sock Puppet
A "sock puppet" is a puppet made from a sock. This form of "sock puppet" has existed since at least the 1940s, popularized in the 1950s by Shari Lewis (1933-1998) and her sock…
SoCon (Social Conservative)
"SoCon" (or "socon") is a "social conservative." "SoCon" has been cited in print since at least 1999 and has been a popular term in Canada. The United States…
Soda Jerk (Soda Jerker)
A "soda jerk" (or "soda jerker") is a person employed behind a soda fountain, "jerking" the fountain spigot to make a soda or an ice cream soda or other such drinks.…
Sodom by the Sea (Coney Island)
Coney Island has sometimes been called "Sodom by the Sea," in reference to the vices of the Biblical city of Sodom. The headline for the New York (NY) Times on October 15, 1893 was:…
Sodom South (Greenwich Street between Carlisle and Rector Streets)
Greenwich Street between Carlisle and Rector Streets was called "a kind of Sodom South" in the New York (NY) Times on March 9, 2007. A topless bar (Pussycat Lounge), Thunder Lingerie and…
SoFi (South of Fifth Avenue or South of Flatiron)
"SoFi" can mean either "South of Fifth Avenue" (this doesn't exactly make sense because Fifth Avenue runs north and south!) or "South of Flatiron" (this…
Soft Despotism
"Despotism (or "hard despotism") is life under a rule of a single entity with absolute power. In a democracy, the majority can install "big government" and create a…
Soft Tyranny
The term "soft tyranny" was popularized by conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin, author of the best-selling book Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto (2009). A "hard…
Softball Question
A "softball question" is a question that is easy to answer. Political candidates usually like softball questions because answering them makes the candidates appear strong and in control.…
SoHell (South of Hell’s Kitchen)
SoHell (south of Hell's Kitchen is a neighborhood name that was coined by New York magazine in August 2006. (The Gothamist citation below is from August 8th, but New York magazine dates its…
SoHo (South of Houston Street)
"SoHo" means SOuth of HOuston Street. The Oxford English Dictionary has no mention of New York's Soho, but has this for London: The name of a district in the West End of London,…
Solarcoaster (solar stocks + roller coaster)
Solar stocks have been known for their volatility. The term "solarcoaster" (solar stocks + roller coaster) has been used to describe the solar stocks' up-and-down ride. A blog called…
SOLE Food (Sustainable, Organic, Local, Ethical)
SOLE (Sustainable, Organic, Local, Ethical) food -- a pun on "soul food" -- was coined by The Ethicurean blog in May 2006. "Ethicurean" is also an invented word; SOLEfood.com…
Solita (South of Little Italy)
"Solita" (or "SoLita") means "South of Little Italy." It's a spinoff from NoLita (North of little Italy). The name started with the "SoLita Building" at…
SoMa (South of Macy’s)
SoMa (South of Macy's) is a nickname for the area south of Herald Square in Manhattan. The "SoMa" nickname is taken from the well-established SoMa (South of Market) in San Francisco.…
Son Of a Bitch, Everything’s Real (“sober” backronym)
"S.O.B.E.R. = Son Of A Bitch, Everything's Real" was published in the book Stepping Stones to Recovery for Young People: Experience the Miracle of 12 Step Recovery (1991), edited by…
Sonny Mae or Sony Mae (State of New York Mortgage Agency or SONYMA)
The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) was created in 1970. The nickname "Sonny Mae" has been cited in print since at least August 1981 and "Sony Mae" since at least…
Sons of Anarchy (Jets defensive line nickname)
The New York Jets football team nicknamed their defensive line the New York Sack Exchange in 1981. The 2013 defensive line of Damon Harrison (nose tackle), Sheldon Richardson (defensive end) and…