Stooge
"Stooge" was a theatrical term for "student." Comedian Victor Moore has explained in several articles that it began in 1912 at Hammerstein's Victoria Theatre, the…
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When I make a mistake, it’s a beaut!
Mayor Fiorello La Guardia was reminded that a judge he'd disagreed with had been appointed by him. "When I make a mistake, it's a beaut!" he declared. The line became famous and…
“Bowery Gals” (1853)
The song "Bowery Gals" is usually called "Buffalo Gals." The song has had many different names. The following lyrics are "can't/won't you come out tonight and…
Big Six
"Big Six" was the name of the Americus fire truck used by Boss William Tweed and his Tammany Hall gang. Later, "Big Six" was the nickname of the great New York Giants baseball…
What are you going to do about it?
"What are you going to do about it?" was the 1870s slogan regarding the corrupt Tammany Hall ring. Cartoonist Thomas Nast used the phrase in his many famous "Tammany tiger"…
“Break up the Yankees!”
"Break up the Yankees!" was the public cry against the 1920s Babe Ruth Yankee teams that almost always won. 10 July 1927, Chicago Daily Tribune, pg. A4:The well wishers would have the…
Deadhead
A "dead head" is someone who doesn't pay. Originally, it probably referred to a train passenger who didn't pay for a ticket, but it soon included nonpaying "customers"…
Snowflake (Fifth Avenue & 57th Street)
Each winter before Christmas, a huge snowflake of lights appears above the intersection at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. This snowflake of lights was first introduced in 1984. In 2002, it became…
Rushing/Working the Growler
The "growler" was a pail that men would send down to the local bar for more beer. In the 1880s. this was called "rushing the growler" or "working the growler." A…
Tammany Hall
(Oxford English Dictionary)Tammany a. The name of the central organization of the Democratic party in the City (formerly also in the State) of New York, located in Tammany Hall, in 14th Street, New…
“Win in a walk” (horse racing slang)
"Win in a walk" was horse racing slang that spread throughout New York City and then the country. Everything easy in New York City became "a walk." (Oxford English Dictionary)to…
“Song and dance” (slang, “false story”)
The slang term "song and dance" (meaning an elaborately contrived story, told to evade the truth) possibly originated from New York City. An 1897 story in Harper's Weekly on…
Hamburger (a full etymology)
New York City's German immigrants helped to introduce "Hamburger steak" (later simply "hamburger") to America. Wikipedia: HamburgerAlthough Hamburg, Germany is credited for…
Sis-boom-bah (skyrocket cheer)
"Sis-boom-bah" is the sound of a skyrocket and quickly became a football cheer at Princeton University. Did it begin with New York's Seventh Regiment? The following is a post by Ben…
Goo Goo (Good Government)
"Goo Goo" is what a baby says. It also stands for "good government," from 1894-95. 28 November 1894, Washington Post, pg. 4:The New York Times complains because Mr. Morton has…
Automat (or, Automated Restaurant)
The "Automat" is a German invention from 1896, originally called the "automated restaurant." Horn & Hardart opened the first American "Automat" in Philadelphia in…
Double-Decker
Maybe the tour guides in those double-decker buses will kindly tell this to our tour visitors? (Oxford English Dictionary)double decker(...)b. 'A street-car having a second floor and seats on…
“Now That’s HIP” (Health Insurance Plan of Greater NY)
HIP is the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York. HIP is national, but it began in New York City. "Now That's HIP" is a slogan from 2002.…
“Mainhattan” (Frankfurt am Main, Germany)
Frankfurt am Main (the Germany city of Frankfurt, on the river Main) has called itself "Bankfurt" (Bank + Frankfurt) and "Mainhattan" (Main + Manhattan). There are many banks…
“White Shoe” Firm
New York has its "white shoe" firms. This old term (anyone wear white shoes anymore?) probably comes from Yale University. (Oxford English Dictionary)white-shoe slang (chiefly U.S.),…