General
space saver
What does space saver mean?
A Boston winter institution. After a snowstorm, you spend two hours shoveling out a street spot — so you stake your claim with a lawn chair, traffic cone, busted TV, statue of the Virgin Mary, whatever's in the basement. The unwritten code says that spot is yours until the snow melts. Moving someone's space saver is grounds for slashed tires, keyed paint, or a screaming match in three generations of accent.
"Some kid from Brookline moved my space saver and I came back to find my wipers snapped clean off."
Origin
Working-class Boston tradition formalised over decades of nor'easters; the city has periodically tried (and failed) to ban it.
Frequently asked questions
What does "space saver" mean in Boston?
It's the chair (or other object) you leave in a parking spot you've shovelled out of the snow, marking it as yours — and woe betide anyone who moves it.
How do you use "space saver" in a sentence?
"Someone tossed my space saver and stole the spot I dug out all morning."
Why do people use space savers?
After clearing a parking spot from heavy snow, residents place a space saver to claim that hard-won spot for themselves.
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