NY-isms and other New York City, NY Local Custom Tips

For people travelling to NYC for the 1st time, it seems like people are talking another language. Here are unique sayings or phrases usually seen or heard from New Yorkers - NY-isms:

Fug-ge-da-bo-dit = forget about it; usually in reply to someone who has no hope of getting what the person wanted.

Yo = could mean "hey", "watch it", "glad to meet you"

Grab a slice = get and eat a slice of pizza

Shmear = usually refers to a smeared dollop of cream cheese on a bagel

Over there = several meanings:
1) a general direction indicated by locals since they a) don't exactly know where the location is, or b) they don't have time for you.
2) Oh, your from over there (indicating New Jersey) :-(

Don't Block the Box = when driving through an intersection make sure there's room to completely cross it. Police can fine you for blocking the intersection.

Gridlock = traffic that's not moving usually as a result of people blocking the box.

Alternate Side Parking = rules telling people which side of the street to park for that day/hours.

No Radio = a sign sometimes put by people to indicate to would be thieves that there is no radio in the car.

Can't Afford Not To Buy = you just have to buy it since it's too good of a deal

The island = Long Island

Uptown = anything above 14th street in Manhattan

Upstate = any part of New York that's not Manhattan

Bridge & Tunnel People = refers to people coming into New York City usually people from New Jersey

Bloomie's = no this does not refer to one's underwear; it refers to the Bloomingdale's department store

Lotto fever = an addictive trance-like disease where many people feel compelled to stand in a very long line, sometimes hours, in hopes of getting the winning ticket to a lottery (worth millions - 2 or more digits)

2-fer = 2 tickets for the price of 1

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I saw these tips on what you can/can not do for parking in NYC (source: Fox 5 News NYC)

1. NYC does not paint curbs with yellow lines. Typically restaurants & residential complexes paint these lines to prevent people from parking. You should be able to park by yellow curbs and should not receive a ticket IF there are no "NO PARKING" signs for the area you are parking.

2. Only one side of a sign needs to say "No Parking" - even if you can not read it from the street side (rather than from the sidewalk). Signs are usually valid for the WHOLE block.
So if there is a 2-sided "No Parking" sign and the side facing the street is washed out or someone put a sticker on it, you could get a ticket if you park there.

3. Owners of residences can apply to the town's Office of Supervisor to get a "No Parking" sign approval to put in front of their property.

4. Restaurants CAN NOT put red cones in front of their entrances to prevent the public from parking.

5. You can park at a broken parking meter only for 1 hour; after that you are eligible to get a ticket. Problem is how do you prove you have only parked there an hour!

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