Texas, The Lone Star State

This site is edited by Barry Popik. Technical matters are handled by Grant Barrett of Double-Tongued Word Wrester Dictionary.

The Lone Star State. An etymological dictionary investigating the origins of Texas words, names, quotations and phrases, specializing in modern slang, nicknames, slogans, proverbs, adages and aphorisms. A web site by Barry Popik.

(2/42 pages) < 1 2 3 4 > Last »
“Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” (1/6)
“Come Early; Be Loud; Stay Late” (Longhorns slogan) (12/6)
“Come on ice cream!” (post-jalapeño-eating saying) (2/26)
“Confused as a cow on AstroTurf” (or, “Confused as a goat on AstroTurf") (9/4)
“Conserve Texas water—Drink Texas wine” (8/12)
“Courtesy, Service, Protection” (Texas Department of Public Safety motto) (12/20)
“Cowboy Up” (1/2)
“Cowgirls Rule” (from earlier “Girls Rule, Boys Drool") (1/1)
“Crazy as a peach orchard boar” ("Madder than a peach orchard boar") (2/2)
“Cry calf rope” (or “Holler calf rope” or “Yell calf rope") (2/21)
“Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of Democracy” (Mirabeau B. Lamar; UT motto) (8/17)
“Dance with the one who brung you” (Darrell Royal) (12/7)
“Deliciously Different” (Big Red soft drink slogan) (4/13)
“Did you know the Missouri Pacific Railroad is mentioned in the Bible?” (railroad joke) (10/8)
“Difference between dead armadillo and dead lawyer in road? The armadillo has skid marks in front!” (9/3)
“Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” (6/8)
“Don’t call him a cowboy till you’ve seen him ride” (9/16)
“Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.” (Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich) (8/16)
“Don’t let your alligator mouth overload your hummingbird ass” (4/24)
“Don’t Mess With Texas—We’re Armed” (2/24)
“Don’t Mess With Texas” (8/3)
“Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining” (12/29)
“Don’t send my boy to Texas” (Oklahoma University song) (3/20)
“Downtown Dallas” (joke punchline) (3/15)
“Dr. Pepper - Good for Life” (10/27)
“Drink. Drive. Go to Jail.” (TxDOT slogan) (9/22)
“Drive Friendly—The Texas Way” (6/5)
“Drop edge of yonder” (1/12)
“East end of a horse going west” (a horse’s ass) (6/6)
“Eat Beef—The West Wasn’t Won on Salad” (2/19)
“Eating Out Is Fun!” (Texas Restaurant Association) (6/23)
“Edmonton is to Calgary as Austin is to Houston” (8/19)
“Eighter from Decatur, county seat of Wise” ("Ada from Decatur") (8/27)
“Everybody invited and nobody slighted!” (7/30)
“Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die” (10/3)
“Everything’s bigger in Texas” (11/18)
“Eyes of Texas” (University of Texas alma mater) (10/21)
“Eyes of Texas” Salad (10/12)
“Fair to Midland” (pun on “fair to middling") (8/7)
“Fear the star” (Dallas Cowboys fan saying) (11/30)
“Fellow-countrymen, follow me to yonder saloon!” (shortest-ever Texas political speech?) (9/13)
“Fine as cream gravy” (12/1)
“Finish last in medical school and they call you ‘doctor‘“ (Texas basketball coach Abe Lemons) (11/5)
“First, you make a roux…” (9/24)
“Flush twice—Houston needs the water” (Dallas saying) (8/16)
“Follow me to freshness” (H-E-B food truck slogan) (1/31)
“Food, People, Heart & Soul” (United Supermarkets slogan) (10/27)
“Free Crabs Tomorrow” (Joe’s Crab Shack) (2/5)
“Fried catfish is the other white meat” (5/20)
“Fried chicken and champagne? Why the hell not?” (Max’s Wine Dive) (7/17)
(2/42 pages) < 1 2 3 4 > Last »