the big apple

[asmyers]

why is new york city known as the big apple

[spacechimp]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Apple

[Bowler900]

I always thought it was because it was rotten to the core

[gaz_farr]

I've just got back from NYC and whilst I was on a tour bus the tour guide explained it like this -

Jazz musicians in the southern states referred to gigs as apples. This was because typically before gigs they would get nervous and it would feel like they had a piece of apple in their throat (weird I know). Anyway when Jazz became popular in NY, especially Harlem these gigs were referred to as Big Apples.

It kinda grew from there really apparently.