Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Life magazine (a New York City humor magazine) in 1921 gave an interesting maxim for musical comedy: "If a musical show takes off enough clothes in the summer it usually runs through the…
What would a musical be without its dancers? A saying (of unknown authorship) has been cited in print since at least 1928: "A musical comedy with good legs ought to have a long run." 17…
Turducken (turkey + duck + chicken) is a popular Thanksgiving meal, and there is also vegetarian or vegan turducken, called "vegducken/veggieducken." A vegetarian turducken with tofu (or…
Turducken (turkey + duck + chicken) is a popular Thanksgiving meal. There have been many imitations made without meat. "What next, vegetarian Turducken?" was a newspaper headline in…
"Orange you glad I didn't say banana?" is the punchline of a famously bad "knock-knock" joke. The joke has been recorded since at least 1960. Wikipedia: Knock-knock jokeThe…
New York City-based author Fran Lebowitz wrote in Metropolitan Life (1978): "Food is an important part of a balanced diet." The one-line saying has been frequently cited. Wikipedia: Fran…
"Hamburger disease" (hemolytic uremic syndrome) was named after disease outbreaks at McDonald's restaurants in 1982 and was popularized by E. coli outbreaks at Jack in the Box…
A "crybully" (crybaby + bully) is someone who wants to claim victimization so he or she can bully others. The claim might be in the form of a hoax or an exaggerated, overplayed incident.…
“A polo handicap is a passport to the world" has been credited to British statesman Winston Churchill (1874-1965), a lifelong polo enthusiast, but it's uncertain when he said it.…
Brooklyn-born comedian Joan Rivers (1933-2014) hated housework. She said in 1966: "You wash dishes, make the beds, dust -- and then two weeks later you have to do it all over again."…
A "chambong" (champagne + bong) is a flute funnel that allows for faster consumption of champagne. The product was invented in 2014 and was trademarked with a first use date of June 1,…
"The slower is comes off, the longer it stays off" is a weight loss adage that has been cited in print since at least 2000. The reasoning behind the adage is that a person who slowly and…
An old joke tells that mathemtics is the second-cheapest department at any college because all you need is a pencil, paper and a wastebasket. Philosophy is the cheapest because you don't need…
Hungarian mathematician George Pólya (1887-1985) was asked -- it is not known when -- why there were so many great Hungarian mathematicians. He replied: "Generally speaking, mathematics is…
"Educayshun” is a jocular spelling—using eye dialect—for the word “education.” "Counsel of Educayshun" was cited in Punch, or the London Charivari in 1843, but the spelling…
"A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory" is a jocular line that has been cited in print since at least 1998. Authorship is unknown. American comedian Steven Wright has…
"A comic says funny things; a comedian says things funny" is an entertainment adage. "A good comedian can say things funny and other guys just say funny things" was credited in…
American cowboy, humorist and actor Will Rogers (1879-1935) wrote in his newspaper column published on July 21, 1932: "A conference is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in…
"A politician can make waves, then make you think he's the only one who can save the ship" is a saying that has been credited to Ivern Ball since at least 1992. The quotation made…
"Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on GIFs. "How come we choose from just…