Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006.
Recent entries:
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“My school was so tough the school newspaper had an obituary section” (5/14)
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“If your eyes hurt after you drink coffee, you have to take the spoon out of the cup” (5/14)
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“My job as a croupier is ideal” (5/14)
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“Food tastes better in small houses” (5/14)
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“Things taste better in small houses” (5/14)
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Oct. 17, 1931, Turf Play, p. 7.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce The Big Apple, a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.
The Big Apple. An etymological dictionary (over 21,000 entries) investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases, specializing in modern slang, neologisms, nicknames, acronyms, slogans, mottoes, proverbs, adages, idioms. aphorisms, riddles, puns and jokes. There are regional dictionaries of New York City, Florida, Oregon and Texas. Established 2004. A website by Barry Popik (etymologist "King of Dad Jokes and Oneliners").
Above, the header from the 1924 newspaper column of John J. Fitz Gerald. Click to see a portion of the column which includes his use of "Big Apple." Part of a 1926 column is also available.
Above, a cartoon representing the idea of the "big apple" from the 1920s. Click to see the full version.
SUMMARY: "Why is New York called the Big Apple?"