Big Smoke
n.— «If you are dubious about whether bankers are people or what, you will find out…if you walk right in and say to the stenographer “where is the Big Smoke around here—I want to see him.”» —“The Low Down from Hickory Grove” by Jo Serra Mountain Democrat and Republican (Placerville, California) Oct. 24, 1946. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Cat hair may be something you brush off, but cat hair is also a slang term that means “money.” In the same way, cat beer isn’t alcoholic — some people use cat beer as a joking term for “milk.” And imagine walking on a...
There are eight major planets, but more than a million minor ones, including asteroids. If you discover one, you get the honor of naming it. The Dictionary of Minor Planet Names includes minor planets named for rock bands, jazz musicians, poets, and...