Snowbird (northern tourist)
"Snowbird" is the name of a northern tourist who visits Florida to escape the winter. (Oxford English Dictionary)1923 Nation 31 Oct. 487 In winter, when building is at a standstill in the…
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Pico de gallo
"Pico de gallo" is a Mexican food, but probably more Cal-Mex than Tex-Mex. I pointed this dish out to the OED and supplied the 1962 citation below. Wikipedia: Pico de galloIn Mexican…
Porkopolis (Cincinnati and Chicago nickname)
Both Cincinnati and Chicago excelled in the slaughterhouse business, and both would be called "Porkopolis." Cincinnati has the nickname "Porkopolis" as early as 1843, and…
Needless Markup (Neiman Marcus nickname)
The Dallas-based Neiman-Marcus store has a nickname. (Historical Dictionary of American Slang)Needless Markup n. a Neiman-Marcus department store. Joc.1995 Chicago man, age 29 (coll. J.…
Hashbrowns (Hash Brown Potatoes; Hashed Brown Potatoes; Hash Browns)
"Hash browns" (also called "hashbrowns," "hashed browns," "hash brown potatoes" and "hashed brown potatoes") are a popular breakfast dish, served…
Con Dead (nickname for a Con Ed power failure)
After the July 2006 Queens power failures caused by Con Ed, some have called the company "Con Dead." http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/07/26/con_dead.phpJuly 26, 2006Con Ed Restores…
Brooklyn National Anthem (“Spring is sprung…”)
The following anonymous poem ("Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the flowers is") is sometimes called the Brooklyn (or Bronx) National Anthem. The poem has been cited in…
Slice (not piece) of pizza; Square pizza
New York City pizzerias usually (though not always) sell pizza by the slice. The practice originated with the pizza itself, in Naples, Italy. The origin of the square pizza is less clear, but see…
Texas Toast
The exact origins of "Texas toast" are still unknown. The toast possibly originated with the popular Rainbo bread. See also New York Brand Texas Toast. The Pig Stand "drive in"…
Conehead (SNL sketch and movie; Mets/Yankees pitcher David Cone; Con Ed workers)
The "coneheads" began as a silly comedy sketch on the television show Saturday Night Live in the 1970s. Mets and Yankees pitcher David Cone had a following of "coneheads." Con…
Spankees or Wankees (NY Yankees derogatory nicknames)
Non-fans of the New York Yankees baseball team have sometimes called them the "Spankees" (a team that's "spanked") or "Wankees" (from "wanker"). Google…
Titans (professional lacrosse team nickname)
A New York City professional lacrosse team was announced in 2006. A team nickname contest was held, and "Titans" was declared the winner. "Titans" was the early name of what…
Big Persimmon (summary)
Tokyo is very seldom called "the Big Persimmon," but some have used the term. There is a blog called "The Big Persimmon" (http://little-wings.com/wordpress/).…
Screwdriver (vodka + orange juice cocktail)
The "screwdriver" cocktail (vodka + orange juice) seems a natural for Florida. Early citations show that the screwdriver was popular in 1950s California, but probably originated in the…
“The Banking Alternative for the 21st Century” (NYC Check Express)
NYC Check Express began in 1971, but its slogan is "The Banking Alternative for the 21st Century." A similar-sounding slogan has been trademarked by another company. NYC Check Express…
Robins (Brooklyn baseball team)
The baseball team that would be known as the Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) was called the Brooklyn Robins from 1914 to 1931, in honor of its manager, Wilbert Robinson. Wikipedia:…
Bridegrooms (Brooklyn baseball team)
"Bridegrooms" was a 19th-century nickname of the Brooklyn club that later became the Brooklyn Dodgers, now the Los Angeles Dodgers. Several of the team's players were recently…
Superbas (Brooklyn baseball team)
"Superbas" was the nickname of the baseball team that would later be called the Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers). "Superba" was the title of an 1890s entertainment…
Texas Pecan Pie
Pecan pie has been a Texas regional specialty for over 100 years. The following citations help explain its origin. (Oxford English Dictionary)pecan, n.1901 T. P. MARSHALL Lone Star Cook Bk. 49…
Food Hole (Whole Foods nickname)
Whole Foods started its first store in Austin, Texas, in 1980. The food retailer is known for its organic foods -- and high prices. The nickname "Food Hole" was applied by at least 1995.…