1. Tribe
What it means everywhere else: A group of people linked together by a common culture or blood.
What it means in Cleveland: The Cleveland Indians, the team that is going to the World Series THIS year. And when they don’t make it this year, then next year. Next year, definitely.
2. Brown
What it means everywhere else: The color of the UPS truck.
What it means in Cleveland: The Cleveland Browns, the football team that you will see in the Super Bowl THIS year. And when they don’t make it this year, then next year. Next year, definitely.
3. Polish Boy
What it means everywhere else: A young boy of Polish descent.
What it means in Cleveland: A grilled kielbasa on a mega roll all you can pile on for five bucks a pop. In other words, a hot dog on delicious steroids.
4. Dog Pound
What it means everywhere else: Where all those poor puppies go who need a home with their sad little puppy eyes.
What it means in Cleveland: The Dawg Pound. The especially rowdy cheering section for the Cleveland Browns. They’re highly effective and entertaining, but it’s not exactly a spot for family time.
5. Cavalier
What it means everywhere else: Acting indifferent to something that should probably upset you, like some kind of BOSS.
What it means in Cleveland: The Cleveland Cavaliers, the only basketball team you ever need to know. Miami might think it has the Heat, but that’s just all that Florida crazy talking.
6. Toppings
What it means everywhere else: What you put on your pizza, like pepperoni.
What it means in Cleveland: What you put on your Polish Boys. The crazier the toppings, the more Cleveland you are.
7. Mustard
What it means everywhere else: Yellow mustard, a popular condiment used on hot dogs and soft pretzels.
What it means in Cleveland: Stadium mustard, a condiment far superior to this “yellow mustard” nonsense.
8. The Big Egg
What it means everywhere else: An egg that is large.
What it means in Cleveland: The legendary after hours hangout where you can order some big pancakes at 3 a.m. on a Saturday from the big egg-shaped menus.
9. Great Lakes
What it means everywhere else: The five freshwater lakes located between northeastern America and Canada.
What it means in Cleveland: Great Lakes Brewing Company. Okay, it could mean the Great Lakes, too. They are pretty great. But not quite as great as a Christmas Ale, am I right?
10. Pierogies
What it means everywhere else: A Polish potato-filled dumpling.
What it means in Cleveland: A Polish potato-filled dumpling that is so popular, they get their own aisle in the grocery store.
11. Rock N’ Roll
What it means everywhere else: The music that your parents told you was going to rot your brain. If you grew up in the 1950s on a Mormon compound.
What it means in Cleveland: The music that was invented right here in Cleveland, back in 1951 when local disc jockey Alan Free coined the term while playing some of the music on the radio.
12. Sweeties
What it means everywhere else: Those tiny candies that every lame house gives out at Halloween.
What it means in Cleveland: The biggest and baddest candy store in the country.
13. Westside
What it means everywhere else: Gang territory.
What it means in Cleveland: Westside Market, the oldest and most culturally diverse public market anywhere.
14. Sly Man
What it means everywhere else: A deceitful guy.
What it means in Cleveland: Slymans. You didn’t think that delicious corned beef just fell from the sky, did you?
15. Beards
What it means everywhere else: The hair men grow on their faces.
What it means in Cleveland: An art form, celebrated by the Cleveland Beard Off.
16. A Christmas Story
What it means everywhere else: The Christmas movie TBS plays on Christmas day. Followed by another viewing. And another. And another….
What it means in Cleveland: The Christmas movie of which you know every line. Not because of the TBS marathon, but because it’s as Cleveland as Drew Carey eating a Polish Boy at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame.
17. Leg Lamp
What it means everywhere else: That ridiculous lamp from A Christmas Story.
What it means in Cleveland: That ridiculous lamp that can be found in at least one house on every street. Frag-ee-lay!
18. Melt
What it means everywhere else: What happens to the Wicked Witch when you throw water on her.
What it means in Cleveland: A melt sandwich. A crispy, grilled cheese stuffed within an inch of its life that tastes so good, you’ll wait three hours for it.
19. Orchestra
What it means everywhere else: A group of instrumentalists.
What it means in Cleveland: The internationally renowned Cleveland Orchestra, the third most recorded Orchestra in the world. Stay classy, Cleveland.
20. Fries
What it means everywhere else: French fries.
What it means in Cleveland: Not fries. Fish fries. The fried dinner of choice, especially around Lent.
21. Drew Carey
What it means everywhere else: The funny guy with the glasses.
What it means in Cleveland: Mr. Cleveland himself.
22. Big Fun
What it means everywhere else: Having a super duper time.
What it means in Cleveland: The best toy store on the face of planet Earth, no exceptions.
23. Playhouse
What it means everywhere else: Where kids go to play; Pee-Wee Herman’s hang out.
What it means in Cleveland: The place that instantly makes you classier when you tell your friends you’re going.
24. Good Year
What it means everywhere else: What you strive for by setting your New Year resolutions every year.
What it means in Cleveland: The Goodyear Blimp. Come to Cleveland for Fleet Week and see firsthand just how “big blimpin’” this place gets.
25. Lola
What it means everywhere else: A song by The Kinks.
What it means in Cleveland: Ground zero for hometown hero, “Cleveland’s Protein Dreamboat,” Michael Symon, where you can officially find the Best Burger in America.
26. Phoenix
What it means everywhere else: A city in Arizona.
What it means in Cleveland: Phoenix Coffee, a caffeinated paradise.
27. Theater
What it means everywhere else: Live theatrics or a play where you go to find the largest theater district in the world.
What it means in Cleveland: Live theatrics or a play where you go to Cleveland to find the second largest district in the world.
28. Rapid
What it means everywhere else: Moving with a quickness.
What it means in Cleveland: The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.
29. Chandelier
What it means everywhere else: That crystal light fixture usually found in foyers that Sia is going to swing from.
What it means in Cleveland: The outdoor chandelier.
30. Rocks
What it means everywhere else: The solid mineral substance usually found at the bottom and edges of rivers and lakes.
What it means in Cleveland: What Cleveland does. You know the words.
