Bridge-and-tunnel means: Of people who travel to Manhattan via bridge or tunnel from surrounding communities.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
bridge-and-tunnel
(New York City, slang, pejorative) Of people who travel to Manhattan via bridge or tunnel from surrounding communities.
Definitions
US
#1·Apr 26, 2026US
(New York City, slang, pejorative) Of people who travel to Manhattan via bridge or tunnel from surrounding communities.
Origin: From the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority and the fact that road travel to Manhattan Island requires passage over a bridge or through a tunnel. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Bridge-and-tunnel means: Of people who travel to Manhattan via bridge or tunnel from surrounding communities.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
bridge-and-tunnel means: Of people who travel to Manhattan via bridge or tunnel from surrounding communities.. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "bridge-and-tunnel" (B)
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