Bumper Thumper (minor automobile accident)
A "bumper thumper" is a minor automobile accident. A Lucky Strike cigarette advertisement in March 1957 featured invented names, and David Barton of the University of Illinois submitted…
Bus Station of Airports (LaGuardia Airport nickname)
New York City's LaGuardia Airport reminds many people of a bus station (an unflattering comparison). LaGuardia has often been called the "Bus Station of Airports." "Laguardia…
Buttermilk Channel
The "Buttermilk Channel" is an old term for the separation between Governors Island and Brooklyn. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttermilk_ChannelThe Buttermilk Channel is a small tidal…
Calatrasaurus (Santiago Calatrava-designed World Trade Center Transportation Hub)
The Santiago Calatrava-designed World Trade Center Transportation Hub was announced in 2004 to have the design of a "bird in flight." The project was long delayed; the project cost…
Can Hear Every Valve Rattle On Long Extended Trips (Chevrolet backronymic nickname)
The Chevrolet Motor Car Company was founded in 1911 and was named after Swiss-born American race car driver Louis-Joseph Chevrolet (1878-1941). The name "Chevrolet" has had several…
Car Owner Virus (“coronavirus” malapropism)
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is sometimes jocularly understood as the "car owner virus." "Car Owner Virus" was posted on Twitter by Loudmouthman on January 22, 2020.…
Carmageddon (car + Armageddon); Carpocalypse (car + apocalypse)
"Carmageddon" (car + Armageddon) is the title of a computer game, trademarked since 1997; "Carpocalyse Now"(car + apocalypse) is the title of a computer game, trademarked since…
Carpocalypse (car + apocalypse); Carmageddon (car + Armageddon)
"Carmageddon" (car + Armageddon) is the title of a computer game, trademarked since 1997; "Carpocalyse Now"(car + apocalypse) is the title of a computer game, trademarked since…
Chat-Down
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has long used "pat downs" to check potential air travelers for weapons. In August 2011 at Boston's Logan Interational Airport, the…
Checker Cab
The "Checker" cab is gone from the streets of New York. But it was New York. It was big, roomy, with checkered stripes on the sides. Go rent the movie Taxi Driver right now. Or you could…
Concourse Crawler or Concourse Creeper (C or CC subway line)
New York City's "CC" train (now the "C" train) serviced much of the Bronx, along the Grand Concourse. According to a post by Bill Newkirk on SubChat.com on May 18, 2007,…
Corking (bicycle-caused gridlock)
Joel Pomerantz helped to form the bicycle group "Critical Mass" in San Francisco and probably coined the term "corking" there in 1992. Critical Mass (a large mass of bicycle…
Crawl and Stall (Stall and Crawl)
"Crawl and stall" traffic" (or "stall and crawl" traffic) is an expression for when traffic slows down, cars crawl along, then stall, and then crawl along again.…
Cross at the green, not in between
Remember "cross at the green, not in between"? The ads haven't appeared recently, but this silly rhyme stays with us! 8 October 1957, New York Times, pg. 37:JAYWALKING LAWPLANNED BY…
Cryanair or Cryinair or CryingAir (Ryanair nickname)
Ryanair is an Irish ultra-low-cost carrier founded in 1984. Ryanair has been nicknamed "Cryanair," "Cryinair" and "CryingAir." "CryinAir" was posted on the…
Cryinair or Cryanair or CryingAir (Ryanair nickname)
Ryanair is an Irish ultra-low-cost carrier founded in 1984. Ryanair has been nicknamed "Cryanair," "Cryinair" and "CryingAir." "CryinAir" was posted on the…
CryingAir or Cryanair or Cryinair (Ryanair nickname)
Ryanair is an Irish ultra-low-cost carrier founded in 1984. Ryanair has been nicknamed "Cryanair," "Cryinair" and "CryingAir." "CryinAir" was posted on the…
Cycologist (someone who rides or repairs bicycles)
"Cycologist" sounds like "psychologist," but means a "cycling" or "spinning" teacher/instructor. "Cycle clinics with 'cycologist' Mal…
Cycology (study of bicycles)
"Cycologist" sounds like "psychologist," but means a "cycling" or "spinning" teacher/instructor. "Cycle clinics with 'cycologist' Mal…
Dark Horse Car
A "dark horse car" (dark horse + car) is similar to a popular model car, but is less well-known and often 20% cheaper. "Buyers Find Deals With 'Dark Horse Cars' by…