Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"She sells sea shells by the sea shore" is a tongue-twister that has been cited in print since at least 1904. There are several puns on this famous line, such as the woman who sells…
"She sells sea shells by the sea shore" is a tongue-twister that has been cited in print since at least 1904. There are several puns on this famous line, such as the woman who sells…
"She sells sea shells by the sea shore" is a tongue-twister that has been cited in print since at least 1904. There are several puns on this famous line, such as the woman who sells…
"I heard the government is putting chips inside people. I hope I get Doritos" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The "chips" are usually radio-frequency…
Do pencils come from Pennsylvania? "Most of the ordinary slate pencils come from Pencil-vania" was printed in the Pittsfield (MA) Sun on December 27, 1876. "Pencils come from…
"Spätzle" (a type of pasta made with fresh eggs) can sound like "special." "Chefs are Spaetzle. But Bakers do it Batter" was posted on Twitter by Matthew M on…
"I heard the government is putting chips inside people. I hope I get Doritos" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The "chips" are usually radio-frequency…
Where is the front of a hamburger? "There is no front of a hamburger until a bite is taken! #NationalBurgerDay" was posted on Twitter by Gerald on August 27, 2015. "A hamburger…
"Baloney" sounds like "below knee," and there are jokes. "I don't see how bologna is opposite of above knee! Now BALONEY on the other hand, yes!" was posted on…
"Baloney" sounds like "below knee," and there are jokes. "I don't see how bologna is opposite of above knee! Now BALONEY on the other hand, yes!" was posted on…
"I got myself a seniors' GPS. Not only does it tell me how to get to my destination, it tells me why I wanted to go there" is a jocular saying that has been printed on several…
Wikipedia: New normal A new normal is a state to which an economy, society, etc. settles following a crisis, when this differs from the situation that prevailed prior to the start of the crisis.…
Banks usually do not give out free samples of money. Occasionally, a bank might give out a coin as an advertising gimmick. "Why don't banks give free samples of their money? How am I…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreakThe 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: New normal A new normal is a state to which an economy, society, etc. settles following a crisis, when this differs from the situation that prevailed prior to…
"First coffee, then we move on to today's episode of 'Now what?'" (or "First coffee, then on to today's episode of 'Now what?'") is a jocular…
"My friends say I’m a pessimist. But I think it’s far worse than that...." is a joke that was posted on Twitter by Col on April 27, 2019. "My friend's say I'm a…
"Pledging allegiance to a flag is like reciting a love poem to a sock" is a saying that has been printed on several images. "Pledging allegiance to a flag is like reciting a love…
Salmonella (bacteria) has nothing to do with salmon (a fish) or anyone named Ella, but there are jokes. "I heard that Ella Fitzgerald and Sammy Davis Jr. are buying out the Jewel Food Store…
People often misspell "barely" and "barley." "I think my favorite typo is when people misspell 'barely' as 'barley'" was posted on Twitter by…