Black Mardi Gras (Texas Relays nickname)
The Texas Relays are an annual track event (since 1925) hosted by the University of Texas at Austin. The Relays bring together both high school and college students and there are many parties held…
Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World (Athens nickname)
Athens in East Texas calls itself the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World." The slogan dates from at least 1971, when Athens hosted a black-eyed pea festival. Handbook of Texas…
Blinky
"Blinky" is milk (or, rarely, another food product) that is beginning to turn sour. "Blinky" is used in Texas and other states in the South and Midwest. Language in Texas…
Bloody Maria (cocktail)
The Bloody Maria is named after the Bloody Mary. However, instead of vodka and tomato juice (as in the Bloody Mary), the Bloody Maria has tequila and tomato juice. The Bloody Maria is cited from…
BlowU (University of Oklahoma or OU nickname)
Football teams from the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma ("OU") play each year in the "Red River Rivalry" game. "BlowU" (or "blOwU") is a…
Blue Alert 〈“Amber Alert” for officers〉
The "Blue Alert" for law enforcement officers was patterned after the "Amber Alert" (children) and the "Silver Alert" (seniors). If a law enforcement officer is killed…
Blue Norther
A "blue norther" (or simply "norther" or "Texas Norther") is a strong northerly wind that's also combined with a decrease in temperature. The term dates from the…
Blue Santa
"Blue Santas" are police officers who play Santa Claus for Christmas. The program started in 1976 with the San Antonio Police Department, but other Texas cities also have their own…
Blue Steel
"Blue steel" can means many things. Steel goes through a "bluing" prcoess to protect against rust. Revolvers often have blue steel barrels. Two movies were titled "Blue…
Blue Tarp Mexican (slang for a Guatemalan)
Texas has many people of Mexican descent, but there are also increasing numbers of Guatemalans in Texas. According to the post below, Guatemalans in far west Texas are called "blue tarp…
Blueberry in the Tomato Soup (Austin political nickname)
Austin has been called the "Blueberry in the Tomato Soup" of Texas. In other words, Texas is a red state (Republican), but Austin votes blue (Democrat). Ther term has been around since at…
Bocoles
Bocoles are a form of gordita that are found in the Huasteca region of Mexico (San Luis Potosi and Veracruz). These masa (corn dough) and pork lard snacks have various fillings. Bocoles are rarely…
BOI (Born On the Island) & IBC (Islander By Choice)
Galveston has two distinctions for the people (non-tourists) who live there: "BOI" (Born On the Island) and "IBC" (Islander By Choice). "BOI" is cited in print from at…
Bois d’Arc Capital of Texas (Commerce nickname)
The city of Commerce was declared by the Texas Legislature the "Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas" in 1999. "Bo-dark" (as it's called) is a tree. Commerce holds an annual…
Bola Tie (Bolo Tie)
The bola tie (or bolo tie; "bola" meaning ball) was declared the official neckwear of Arizona in 1971. In 2007, the Texas legislature had a proposal to make it the official necktie of…
Bolillo (Mexican bread)
"Bolillo" is a Mexican bread that's similar to French bread. The name "bolillo" means bobbin or spindle, and a short rolling pin used to make the bread also is called a…
Bon Appetex
The Austin Land & Cattle Company restaurant tells its customers: "Bon Appetex!" This Texas version of "bon appétit" hasn't spread to other Texas restaurants, however.…
Bonghorns & “Book ‘em, Horns!” (Longhorns & “Hook ‘em, Horns!”)
In 2006 and 2007, several members of the University of Texas "Longhorns" football team were arrested (for illegal drugs and other offenses). The team nickname of "Longhorns" and…
Boot Hill (cemetery for those who “died with their boots on”)
The Wild West had several cemeteries called "Boot Hill" (or "Boots Hill" or "Boothill"), for those who "died with their boots on" (from violence). Hays,…
Border Burger (South of the Border Burger; Tex-Mex Burger)
"Border Burger" has a nice ring to it, but it's also called a "South of the Border Burger" ("SOB" Burger) or a "Tex-Mex Burger." The hamburger sandwich…