Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Above, the header from the February 18, 1924 New York (NY) Morning Telegraph newspaper column of John J. Fitz Gerald. Click to see a portion of the column which includes his use of "Big…
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office in 2026, and one of his campaign promises was city-owned grocery stores, where food would be cheaper and more healthy. The portmanteau term…
"Chicken Ella:" is a dish popularized by the Luna Bar and Grill in Lake Charles, Louisiana (opened in 2004). "The 'Chicken Ella' at Luna Bar and Grill is a fried or grilled…
Entry in progress -- BP Tujague's Restaurant (Est. 1856), New Orleans, Louisiana -- History Timeless Traditions Guillaume and Marie Abadie Tujague took this advantage in 1852 when they married…
Niagara Falls, New York, has been called the "Cataract City." The word "cataract" means "waterfalls." "EAGLE AND CATARACT HOTELS, NIAGARA FALLS" was printed…
"If you see someone smiling naturally on a Monday morning, avoid them. That level of instability isn't safe" is a jocular saying that was posted on Facebook by Coffee on May 18,…
Niagara Falls (both in New York and in Ontario, Canada) has been called the "honeymoon capital of the nation" or the "honeymoon capital of the world." The "honeymoon…
The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair), at Chicago, Illinois, was dubbed the "White City" because so many buildings were white. The 1901 Pan-American…
The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair), at Chicago, Illinois, was dubbed the "White City" because so many buildings were white. The 1901 Pan-American…
Some people believe that Major League Baseball (MLB) is all about gambling, and that the games are rigged. An MLB backronym (back acronym) is "Major League Betting." "#MLB Major…
A "pulse" can mean a palpable beat of an artery, and a "pulse" can also mean an edible seed of the legume family. A joke confuses the two meanings. "*working in…
A "pulse" can mean a palpable beat of an artery, and a "pulse" can also mean an edible seed of the legume family. A joke confuses the two meanings. "*working in…
"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will impress him so much that they become…
"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will impress him so much that they become…
"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will impress him so much that they become…
"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will impress him so much that they become…
"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will impress him so much that they become…
"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will impress him so much that they become…
Some people who are fat wonder why their stomach would ever growl for more food. This was posted on X/Twitter by mila 🍰 on July 14, 2026, and it received over 256,000 likes: "why does my…
"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will impress him so much that they become…