"You know you’re getting older when it feels like the morning after, but there was no night before" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "A SURVEY TO ESTABLISH…
New Yorkers love something for nothing. (Historical Dictionary of American Slang, A-G)gate-crasher n. a forward or undesirable person who attends or enters a sporting event, social function, or…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: Alibi IkeEtymologyFrom the principal character in "Alibi Ike" (1915), a short story by Ring Lardner Sr., and a subsequent film (1935) of the same…
"Ambulance chaser" is another derogatory term for a lawyer (see also the 1840s term"shyster"). An "ambulance chaser" preys on accident victims to sign them up to…
"Astorian” is the name of an inhabitant of Astoria, in the borough of Queens. The name “Astorian” has been cited in print since at least 1876. The city of Astoria, Oregon, was also named…
"B-Boy" or "B-Girl" (also "Bronx boy/girl" or "break boy/girl") are breakdancing terms from the 1980s Bronx. They are still used today. (Oxford English…
Lily Tomlin got the character of the "bag lady" exactly right. Her performance should be available on video somewhere. The Historical Dictionary of American Slang has: "Orig. N.Y.C.…
Horse wranglers take care of horses and are, perhaps, the most famous of all "wranglers." Balloon wranglers take care of balloons. At the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, balloon…
"Bay Ridger” is the name of an inhabitant of Bay Ridge, in the borough of Brooklyn. The name “Bay Ridger” has been cited in print since at least 1879. An inhabitant of Bay Ridge is also…
"Baysider" is the name of an inhabitant of Bayside, in the borough of Queens. The name "Baysider" has been cited in print since at least 1911. The Baysider is also the name of a…
"BBQ people" is rarely used, but it comes from the same time period (1970s) as "bridge and tunnel" people. Perhaps it will be revived, now that there is genuine "Big Apple…
The New York (NY) Morning Telegraph newspaper had a long-running Broadway gossip column (1908-1972) called "The Town in Review" that was written by many people under the name of…
The New York (NY) Morning Telegraph column written by "Beau Broadway" was Broadway's first and longest-running gossip column, from 1908 until the newspaper ended publication in 1972.…
"Beautiful People" was a popular term in the 1960s. It's said to have started in Vogue magazine. (Oxford English Dictionary)beautiful people orig. U.S. (occas. written with capital…
"Beep" means Borough President; there are five, or one for each borough. The term is a take-off on "Veep" (Vice President) and, probably, that popular World War II vehicle, the…
A visitor to the New Jersey shore is called a "benny." This may come from the "benefit" of New Jersey's shore in the summer. It may also come from the "benjamins"…
"Bensonhurster" is the name of an inhabitant of Bensonhurst, in the borough of Brooklyn. "Bensonhursters" was cited in the Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle in 1893. Wikipedia:…
BIC is a ballpoint pen that was introduced in 1950. In the 1950s and 1960s, "B.I.C." (usually pronounced as letters and not a word) stood for "Bronx Irish Catholic."…
Bicycle messengers used to be more numerous than they are today. Blame the cell phone and the internet. It appears that this did not originate in New York City. (Oxford English Dictionary)bicycle…
"Big Appleite” is the name of an inhabitant of New York City -- "the Big Apple." The name “Big Appleite” has been cited in print since at least 1977. An inhabitant of the Big…