Debbie Downer
"Debbie Downer" describes a person -- usually female, but not always -- who always brings bad news and depressing feelings to others. The "Debbie Downer" character was…
“But for a beautiful moment in time we created a lot of value for shareholders”
A cartoon by artist Tom Toro was printed in The New Yorker on November 26, 2012. A businessman in a tattered suit tells children around the campfire: "Yes, the planet got destroyed. But for a…
Negative Ned (Negative Nancy; Negative Nellie/Negative Nelly)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)negative, adj., adv.2, and int.colloquial (originally U.S.). Preceding a forename beginning with N, forming a generic name for a person who is…
Good-time Charlie (Good-time Charley)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: good-time CharlieNoungood-time Charlie (plural good-time Charlies)1. An affable or happy-go-lucky carefree convivial man (Oxford English Dictionary)good-time…
Nervous Nellie (Nervous Nelly)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: nervous NellieNounnervous Nellie (plural nervous Nellies)1. (informal) A person whose personality and behavior are characterized by worry, insecurity, and…
Gloomy Gus
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: gloomy GusNoungloomy Gus (plural gloomy Guses)1. (informal) A person with a sullen, unhappy appearance or demeanor; a person with a pessimistic outlook.…
Alibi Ike
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: Alibi IkeEtymologyFrom the principal character in "Alibi Ike" (1915), a short story by Ring Lardner Sr., and a subsequent film (1935) of the same…
Scissors and Sawbuck (Sears, Roebuck and Company nickname)
The department store chain Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded in 1893, has had several nicknames. "Rears, Sawbuck & Co." was printed in the Jamestown (ND) Weekly Alert on May 11,…
Rears, Sobuck & Co. (Sears, Roebuck and Company nickname)
The department store chain Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded in 1893, has had several nicknames. "Rears, Sawbuck & Co." was printed in the Jamestown (ND) Weekly Alert on May 11,…
Rears, Sawbuck & Co. (Sears, Roebuck and Company nickname)
The department store chain Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded in 1893, has had several nicknames. "Rears, Sawbuck & Co." was printed in the Jamestown (ND) Weekly Alert on May 11,…
Shears, Sawbuck & Co. (Sears, Roebuck and Company nickname)
The department store chain Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded in 1893, has had several nicknames. "Rears, Sawbuck & Co." was printed in the Jamestown (ND) Weekly Alert on May 11,…
“A platypus walks into a bar owned by a duck…” (bar joke)
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A platypus version is: "A platypus walks into a bar owned by a duck. He finishes his…
Sears, Sawbuck & Co. (Sears, Roebuck and Company nickname)
The department store chain Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded in 1893, has had several nicknames. "Rears, Sawbuck & Co." was printed in the Jamestown (ND) Weekly Alert on May 11,…
Monkey Ward (Montgomery Ward nickname)
Montgomery Ward was an American retailer from 1871 to 2001. "Monkey Ward" was a popular nickname that the company tried unsuccessfully to discourage. The nickname was used by competitors…
“Never swear at a prop boy. You may be working for him tomorrow” (entertainment adage)
There are many different ways of the business saying: "Be kind to those working under you; you might be working under them some day." "Do not antagonize the newsboy today -- you may…
“Be nice to the janitor. You may be working for him tomorrow” (business adage)
There are many different ways of the business saying: "Be kind to those working under you; you might be working under them some day." "Do not antagonize the newsboy today -- you may…
“Be nice to the office boy. You may be working for him tomorrow” (business adage)
There are many different ways of the business saying: "Be kind to those working under you; you might be working under them some day." "Do not antagonize the newsboy today -- you may…
“I just can’t see myself wearing camouflage”
"Can't ever see myself wearing camouflage" is a joke that was posted on Twitter by Doug on July 12, 2012. "I can't see myself wearing camouflage" was posted on Twitter…
“The best restaurant on this block” (restaurant sign joke)
A joke has rival restaurants posting "best restaurant in this city" and "best restaurant in this state" and "best restaurant in this country" signs. Finally, one…
“Never get a bread appetizer at an Indian restaurant. It’s a naan-starter”
Naan is a leavened, oven-baked flatbread. A naan appetizer, a joke goes, is a "naan-starter" (non-starter). "I thought I had a good idea for an Indian appetizer, but it was a naan…