01
Crosstown
New York City & Tri-State context
Across Manhattan or another part of the city from east to west, rather than mainly uptown or downtown.
New York topic
Subway & street
Direction, movement, queues, routes, and daily navigation language. Read the full context before treating related terms as synonyms.
02
Downtown
New York City & Tri-State context
Toward the southern or lower-numbered-street direction in Manhattan; it can also refer to Lower Manhattan or other context-specific central areas.
03
Express train
New York City & Tri-State context
A subway train that skips selected local stations to serve a smaller set of major stops more quickly.
04
Gridlock
New York City & Tri-State context
Severe traffic congestion in which vehicles block one another and movement becomes extremely slow or stops.
05
Heard
New York City & Tri-State context
Understood, acknowledged, or message received.
06
Local train
New York City & Tri-State context
A subway train that stops at the local stations along its route rather than skipping them for faster service.
07
My fault
New York City & Tri-State context
An informal apology that accepts responsibility for a mistake, interruption, collision, or misunderstanding.
08
On line
New York City & Tri-State context
Waiting in a queue; a well-known New York regional alternative to in line.
09
Schlep
New York City & Tri-State context
To carry or drag something awkwardly, or to make a tiring, inconvenient trip.
10
Schvitz
New York City & Tri-State context
To sweat heavily; as a noun, it can also refer to a steam bath or sauna-like session.
11
Straphanger
New York City & Tri-State context
A public-transit passenger, especially a regular subway or bus rider who may have to stand.
12
The city
New York City & Tri-State context
Often Manhattan, especially when spoken by people in another borough or the surrounding metro area; in other contexts it can mean New York City as a whole.
13
The train
New York City & Tri-State context
The subway system or a particular subway service, referred to in ordinary conversation simply as the train.
14
Thruway
New York City & Tri-State context
The New York State Thruway, or more generally a major limited-access road identified by that regional name.
15
Uptown
New York City & Tri-State context
Toward the northern or higher-numbered-street direction in Manhattan; it can also name particular northern areas depending on context.