Iowa: “Three tickets out of Iowa” (Iowa caucus adage)
The Iowa caucuses provide the first presidential voting in the United States. The political proverb is that "three tickets come out of Iowa" -- the first, second, and third place caucus…
Iowa: Full Grassley (politician visiting each county)
Chuck Grassley was first elected U.S. Senator in Iowa in 1980. During his campaign, Grassley visited each of Iowa's 99 counties -- something he would repeat every year in office. U.S.…
Iowa: I Oughta Went Around (backronym)
The state of Iowa was given the backronym (back acronym) nickname of "I Oughta Went Around" by truckers in 1974. The state strictly enforced the 55-miles-per-hour speed limit, and this…
Iowa: I Owe the World an Apology (backronym)
The "Iowa" state name comes from the Native American "Ioway" tribes, but some people give it a backronym (back acronym). ""I Owe the World an Apology" is an Iowa…
Iowa: Idiots Out Wandering Around (backronym)
The "Iowa" state name comes from the Native American "Ioway" tribes, but some people give it a backronym (back acronym). ""Idiots Out Walking/Wandering Around" is…
Kansas: Sunflower State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)Sunflower State n. U.S. a nickname for Kansas.1888 Harper's Mag. June 39/1 Her citizens affectionately speak of Kansas as the ‘Sunflower…
Kentucky: Corn-cracker (nickname)
Kentuckians were called "Corn-crackers" is the 19th century, and Kentucky was known as the "Corn-cracker State." "In Kentucky they're call'd Corn-Crackers"…
Kentucky: Red Horse (nickname)
A person from Kentucky was called a "Red Horse" in the 19th century. The red-tail sucker, a fish that was also called "red horse," was common in the Ohio River. "The…
Louisiana: Pelican (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)The Brown Pelican and Louisiana HistoryThe brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) has a storied…
Maine: “As Maine goes, so goes the nation”
"As goes Maine, so goes the nation" usually means that the winner of Maine's presidential vote will win the presidential election. This was not the original form of the phrase, nor…
Maine: “Does anyone else forget the abbreviation for Maine or is it just ME?”
Entry in progress -- BP TwitterYS@NYinLA2121Does anyone else forget the abbreviation for Maine or is it just ME?11:11 PM · Apr 20, 2021·Twitter for iPhone Reddit -- OnelinersPosted by u/pathrado…
Maine: Fox (nickname)
A resident of Maine was called a "Fox" in the 19th century. "The inhabitants of Maine, are called Foxes," an 1845 national nickname list began. An 1898 dictionary explained,…
Maine: Lumber State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. OCLC WorldCat recordLumber State Soldiers, "Motto," We live for the union. We die for the union. We will uphold the union. PortlandPublisher: [New York] :…
Maine: Pine Tree State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. OCLC WorldCat recordForest and shore, or, Legends of the Pine-tree stateAuthor: Charles P IlsleyPublisher: Boston : J.P. Jewett and Co., 1856Edition/Format: eBook :…
Maryland: Clam Thumper or Craw Thumper (nickname)
A person from Maryland was called a "Clam Thumper" or a "Craw Thumper in the 1800s. "Craw-thumper" was old slang for a Roman Catholic, and while this also applies to many…
Maryland: Old Line State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)Old Line State n. U.S. Maryland.1871 M. Schele de Vere Americanisms xii. 660 Maryland bears the proud title of Old-line State from the Old-Line…
Massachusetts: Bay State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)Bay State n. popular name in U.S. for the State of Massachusetts, originally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay; hence Bay Stater.1789 S. Davis…
Massachusetts: Taxachusetts (nickname)
Massachusetts has a long reputation as a high tax state, although several studies over many years have shown that it's far from the highest tax state. The state nickname of…
Michigan: Michigander (nickname)
"Michigander" is one of several names -- such as "Michiganian" -- for a resident of Michigan. The name is a jocular combination of "Michigan" and "gander,"…
Minnesota: “Land of the ski and home of the crazed”
"O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" is the famous last line of the first stanza of "The Star Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States.…