Sensitive or insulting
Compare 12 regional entries that share this classification while keeping each local definition attached to its place.
Bridge-and-tunnel
/BRIJ-and-TUN-ul/A class-coded and often dismissive New York label for people traveling into Manhattan from outer boroughs, New Jersey, Long Island, or surrounding suburbs.
““Calling everyone from outside Manhattan bridge-and-tunnel sounded needlessly snobbish.””
Bugging
/BUG-ing/Acting irrationally, overreacting, misunderstanding, or saying something unreasonable.
““You’re bugging if you think I’m taking three trains for that.””
Frontin’
/FRUN-tin/Pretending, exaggerating, acting tougher or more successful than reality, or presenting an image the speaker believes is false.
““Stop frontin’—you know you liked the song.””
Grill
/GRIL/To question someone intensely, scrutinize them, or stare at them in a challenging way.
““Why are you grilling me? I already answered.””
Native New Yorker
/NAY-tiv noo YOR-ker/A person born in New York City or, in some uses, someone born and raised in the city or state of New York.
““He is a native New Yorker who grew up in the Bronx.””
Nuyorican
/noo-YOR-ih-kun/A term for Puerto Rican identity and culture shaped in New York, especially through migration, community life, literature, music, performance, and political expression.
““The course focused on Nuyorican poetry and performance.””
OD
/oh-DEE/Excessive, extremely, or doing too much; the exact grammar changes with the sentence.
““Twenty dollars for that small plate is OD.””
Schmuck
/SHMUCK/An insulting slang term for a foolish, unlikeable, inconsiderate, or contemptible person.
““Only a schmuck would block the doorway during rush hour.””
Shorty
/SHOR-tee/A familiar term for a girl or woman, sometimes a romantic interest; in other contexts it can address a younger person or close peer.
““Shorty said she’ll meet us by the station.””
The Ocky way
/thuh AH-kee way/A viral request for an unusually elaborate, customized bodega or deli preparation associated with social-video sandwich content.
““Can you make the sandwich the Ocky way for the video?””
Tight
/TYTE/Upset, annoyed, or bothered; elsewhere it can also mean close, secure, or excellent.
““He was tight they closed the doors early.””
Transplant
/TRANS-plant/A person who moved to New York from another city, state, or country rather than growing up locally.
““She’s a transplant who has lived in Queens for twelve years.””