Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
A popular July 4th (Independence Day) riddle is: Q: What do you call an American drawing?A: A Yankee Doodle. The Yankee Doodle pun has been cited in print since at least 1988. Wikipedia: Yankee…
A company that's bankrupt and closes is said to have "gone under" (as if buried). There are several diving company/school jokes. "Friend's had to cancel his deep sea diving…
"You remind me of a penny -- two-faced and not worth much" (or "You remind me of a penny -- two-faced and worthless") has is an expression that has been printed on many images.…
"Yesterday's eyeliner can be today's smokey eye if you just believe in yourself" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. "Yesterday's eyeliner…
Is the U.S. government an insurance company? It pays out Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security -- and it has an army. Under Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Peter R. Fisher said at the Columbus Council…
"You remind me of a penny -- two-faced and not worth much" (or "You remind me of a penny -- two-faced and worthless") has is an expression that has been printed on many images.…
"The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. "The harder you work for…
“A winner never quits and a quitter never wins” is an old saying. "Winners never quit... talking about being a winner" was posted on Twitter on January 28, 2011. "Quitters never…
"Wake up and spill the coffee" is a saying that means that the listener should be awake to reality. "Wake up and spill the coffee" is a jocular version that has been printed on…
IKEA furniture often must be assembled by its customers. "There was a mysterious murder in an IKEA the other day and homicide detectives are having trouble putting the pieces together" is…
"When one door shuts, another opens" is an old proverb about opportunity. However, it is also possible that when one door closes, there is no other opportunity -- in fact, there could be…
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is a popular American poem verse from the 1830s. The verse has many joke endings that replace "try, try again." "If at…
American journalist James Reston (1909-1995), then Washington bureau chief of the New York (NY) Times, spoke at the 50th anniversary of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in…
Many people use their pets' names for passwords. "72% of all computer passwords are names of deceased pets" was posted on Twitter on May 31, 2008. "Passwords: the only thing…
"Fettugenie" is a jocular portmanteau word that combines "fettuccine" and "genie." "What is Aladdin's favourite pasta? Fettugenie" was posted on Twitter…
"Stay positive, work hard and make it happen" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. "Semester almost over. Stay Positive. Work Hard. Make it Happen.…
Entry in progress -- B.P. The Town LineI’M JUST CURIOUS: New T-shirt sayings June 27, 2018by Debbie Walker(...)Line dancing was started by women waiting to use the bathroom.
"Being an adult is like folding a fitted sheet. No one really knows how" is a jocular saying that has been printed on several images. "Parenting is like folding a fitted sheet. No…
Entry in progress -- B.P. The Town LineI’M JUST CURIOUS: New T-shirt sayings June 27, 2018by Debbie Walker(...)Wait! I do not snore! I dream I am a motorcycle!
"I’m more confused than a chameleon in a bag of Skittles" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. A bag of Skittles contains multi-colored candies; a chameleon is a…