Speakstakes (Speaker + sweepstakes)
A "Veepstakes" (Veep + sweepstakes) is a race for vice president. A "Speakstakes" (Speaker + sweepstakes) is a race for a Speaker position, such as the Speaker of the House of…
“Go ham” or “Go ham and cheese” (go hard)
"Go ham" is a rap expression that has been printed on posters and T-shirts. Gucci Mane - Go Ham On Em was uploaded on YouTube on February 19, 2008, and Soulja Boy - Go Ham On Em was…
Triple A-Stros (Houston Astros nickname)
The Houston Astros baseball team went 76 wins-86 losses in 2010, 56 wins-106 losses in 2011, 55 wins-107 losses in 2012 and 51 wins-111 losses in 2013. They were so bad that New York (NY) Daily…
“Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes”
"Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. The original saying was "speak your mind" rather than "speak the…
“Great Scott!”(exclamation)
"Great Scott!" is an exclamation of surprise or amazement that was popular in the 19th century. The origin is unclear, but "Scott" is used in a similar way to the German…
“Practice safe text –- use commas and never miss a period”
"Practice safe text -- -- use commas and never miss a period" is a jocular line that has been printed on GIFs. "Practice safe text" was used in a 2009 program to caution drivers…
“What do you call a group of millionaires watching the World Series?” (joke)
A very popular sports joke is told about a non-championship sports team: Q: What do you call a group of millionaires watching the World Series on TV?A: The New York Yankees. The joke has been told…
“The bar sign said: ‘Topless & Bottomless.’ I went inside and nobody was there!”
New York-based comedian Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) wrote in "My Favorite Jokes" for Parade magazine in November 1978: "I saw a sign outside a bar that said 'Topless!…
Bingo (game)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Bingo (U.S.)Bingo is a game of chance played with different randomly drawn numbers which players match against numbers that have been pre-printed on 5×5…
Mahjong (Mah Jongg)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: MahjongMahjong, also spelled majiang, mah jongg, and numerous other variants, is a game that originated in China. It is commonly played by four players (with…
Poker (card game)
Entry in progress -- B.P. [This entry was assisted by research from Fred Shapiro of the American Dialect Society.] Wikipedia: PokerPoker is a family of gambling card games involving betting and…
“Surfing the Internet”
The term "surfing the Internet" was written by American programmer Mark P. McCahill to a newsgroup on February 24, 1992. However, the term was popularized by New York librarian Jean…
“A day of anarchy is worse than a hundred years of tyranny”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksIslam, Sectarianism, and Politics in Sudan Since the MahdiyyaBy Gabriel WarburgMadison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press2003Pg. 25:The reason was that they…
Motherless Greens (greens without meat)
Collard greens and pork are typical parts of Southern cuisine and "soul food." When people couldn't afford meat, the greens served by themselves were dubbed "motherless."…
Peanut Brittle
Peanut brittle is a hard sugar candy that contains peanuts; other brittles have other nuts. "Peanut brittle" was cited in The World (New York, NY), on March 20, 1892. A store in Paterson,…
Peanut Brutal (peanut brittle joke)
Peanut brittle can be hard on teeth, causing many to call it "peanut brutal." The "peanut brutal" joke was cited in 1947 and twice again in 1960 newspapers. Wikipedia: Brittle…
“I spent a year in that town, one Sunday”
"I spent a year in that town, one Sunday" is what someone from a big city might say about a small town. The quote has been cited in print since at least 1937 and has been credited to…
“A self-taught man usually has a poor teacher and a worse student”
"A self-taught man usually has a poor teacher and a worse student" is an old line of unknown authorship. "He (Charles Haddon Spurgeon -- ed.) is a self-taught man, and contrary to…
“In God we trust. All others must bring data”
"In God we trust” was the motto of a Philadelphia regiment in 1748. Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangled Banner” (1814) contains the words “In God is our trust.” The association of…
“Real men wear aprons”
"Real men wear aprons" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items. The saying sometimes refers to Masonic aprons, but usually it refers to men cooking in barbecue aprons. The…