Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Wall Street. the financial center of the United States, originally had a wall, but it was removed by 1700. A joke about the name "Wall Street" circulated in newspapers in April 1924:…
"Minny" is an abbreviation of 'Minnesota." The term has been most frequently used in sports, especially in newspaper headlines. "'SHI' AND 'MINNY'…
"The reward for saving your money is being able to pay your taxes without borrowing" is a jocular line that's popular at tax time. "The master farmer is the farmer who can pay…
Many places have advertised themselves as a "Valley of Opportunity." Bitterroot Valley, in southwestern Montana, advertised that it was a "Valley of Opportunity" in 1907.…
Binghamton, in Broome County, New York, is called the "Carousel Capital of the World." George F. Johnson (1857-1948), a shoe manufacturer in the Triple Cities area, donated six carousels…
The city of Utica, in Oneida County, New York, saw its population decrease as industry moved out after 1950. However, refugees moved to the city in the 1980s and 1990s, boosting the population.…
"The reward for saving your money is being able to pay your taxes without borrowing" is a jocular line that's popular at tax time. "The master farmer is the farmer who can pay…
The city of Utica (NY) experienced a manufacturing decline in the second half of the 20th century and, allegedly, was called the "City that God Forgot." However, "The city that God…
Several cities have been called "Twin Cities." Columbus (GA), Phenix City (AL) and Girard (AL) were called 'Triple Cities" by at least the 1890s. The western New York cities of…
"Can I claim the government as a dependent on my taxes?" is a jocular saying that has been printed on ecards and bumper stickers. "I still can't figure out why I can't list…
"A fool and his money are soon parted" is a popular English proverb that dates to the 1500s. A fool and his money are soon audited" is a jocular variation on the saying that has been…
"Make America Great Again" is a political slogal that was used by Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) in the 1980s. American businessman and politician Donald Trump used the slogan since at least…
A "cog in the machine" is something that helps the machine run. A "clog" (a shoe) in the machine might make the machine stop running. "Clog" is a malaprop for the…
An ice hockey referee wears a black-and-white jersey. Vern Buffey titled his hockey memoir, Black and White and Never Right: A Hockey Referee (1980). It not known when the "black and white and…
"Make America Great Again" is a political slogal that was used by Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) in the 1980s. American businessman and politician Donald Trump used the slogan since at least…
"New England of the West" is an old nickname for Minnesota. In the first half of the 19th century, many new areas of the west wanted to be compared to the success of New England. The…
Two cities that are close neighbors are sometimes called "twin cities." ""Our line commences at the twin cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, the metropolis of Western…
"Thank you, craft beer, for making my alcoholism seem like a neat hobby" is a jocular line that has been printed on T-shirts and ecards. The original line -- with "micro…
University of Notre Dame head football coach Frank Leahy (1908-1973) wrote 10 thoughts in 1946, one of which was: "7 -- Prayers work better when your players are big." The line is often…
An old calendar pun is: Q: Can February March?A: No, but April May. The joke has been cited in print since March 1886, when it was printed in several American newspapers. The joke originally…