bridge and tunnel
"
Bridge and tunnel" was originally a derogatory slang directed against people living in the outer-boroughs of NYC, who by definition must either use a bridge or a tunnel in order to travel into Manhattan. The original slang had connotations of class distinction,with the implication that bridge and tunnelers were less affluent than those living in the city and were therefore of a lower class. Because of the recent hipster revolution and the ongoing "
hipsterization" of popular culture, over the years the term has drifted away from being a distinction based on affluence and location of residence, to a distinction based on cultural awareness, values, and attitude. In terms of the modern usage of the term, one can now reside in Manhattan and still be considered "
bridge and tunnel". And in fact even people living in other cities such as San Francisco are using "bridge and tunnel" to describe people of specific demographics and cultural attitude in their respective locales.So what has bridge and tunnel evolved to mean? Bridge and tunnel is currently a derogatory slang directed at people who are
culturally ignorant and hold very mainstream
ethnocentric ideals of beauty and rules of attraction, who embrace decidedly
passe suburban cultural values and "reality TV" ideals. For example...one would be considered "bridge and tunnel" if your musical awareness only includes whatever is played on Top 40 radio, your ideal female
sex symbol would be someone like Paris Hilton, you go to tanning salons and constantly flat-iron your hair, you only date people who are white, you think only tall muscular men "a la Abercrombie and Fitch" are attractive, you routinely pay for
bottle service at clubs when you go out, you won't eat Indian or Thai cuisine because it's too weird and exotic for you, you drive an SUV or a hummer, or you belong to a fraternity or sorority.
bridge and tunnel
by Rudolph Guiliani on Nov 02, 2007 23:33:03
A derogatory reference to people who commute into the borough of Manhattan in New York City for any social reason. Implies that the
B & T person is of lower class. Term was coined by Steve Rubell of Studio 54 fame – and contrary to the above definition – it was specifically directed toward people from Queens and Staten Island. Today the term – in NY – applies to people from the
outer boroughs, Long Island and New Jersey. Ironically, those who use the term
Bridge and Tunnel or B & T, are generally not from New York. If you probe, you will often find out they moved to Manhattan after college from some sissy-ass suburb where they grew up.
Example:
The ABC club was uber-hot last week, but then the bridge and
tunnel people showed up! (gasp) I am sooo upset... Now I'll have to sit home and
study Sex and the City re-runs and figure out what Carrie would do.
bridge and tunnel
by elnate on Aug 26, 2006 04:58:12
Term used by Manhattan eliests for people who venture into "The City" that have to travel via bridge or tunnel to arrive, specifically those people from New Jersey or Long Island. Traditionally, people who live in Brooklyn,
the Bronx, and even
Staten Island are excempt from this term. This is not a
favorable term, and at times is synonymous with "trash."
Example:
The
Gotti kids are bridge and tunnel to the core: they have stupidly lavish parties here
that real New Yorkers would never have and they use too much gel.
bridge and tunnel posse
by Lou Stenspayce on Dec 25, 2003 14:30:39
Girls who live in Jersey,
the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn or worse Long Island who go into Manhattan on the weekend for clubbing. The term primarily refers to girls from Jersey or LI.
Bridge and Tunnel because that is their mode of transportation into/out of the island.
Posse because they frequently travel in large packs.
Bridge and Tunnel People
by Moder on Jul 15, 2006 07:14:55
Traditionally, "
bridge and tunnel" does not refer to suburbanites from Westchester and CT (who are on average wealthier than
Manhattanites) but rather citizens of the outer-boroughs (Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Bronx). The term is actually one of barely-contained racism and ethnic
snobbery, most often applied to Italian "guidos" with thick accents
Bridge and Tunnel People
by NYC Girl on Nov 30, 2003 03:18:38
People who live in the suburban arears of new York City (Long Island,
Westchester, and also New Jersey) They invade Manhattan. They have heavy NY thick accents, are behind in fashion-they think it is still 1990. The girls have big hair and fake dark
tans with long fake nails. The guys are typically guidos yet there are also guys who are 35 and still wearing their 1985
Motley Crue attire.
Everyone whos from Manhhtan hate these people. They are beneath us.
bridge and tunnel crowd
by justicejoy on Nov 16, 2005 13:25:08
A term used by pompous out-of-staters who think they are superior to native
New Yorkers (namely those from Jersey, the other 4 boroughs and Long Island who travel via bridge or tunnel to get to Manhattan.) Generally used by white-bred,
sheltered,
self-righteous "yuppies."
Perhaps an antonym would be "Train and Plane people".
Example:
Since
I moved to NY, I feel inferior and
intimidated by native
new yorkers, so I refer to them as the, "bridge and tunnel crowd" to make myself feel better.