Welfarian (someone on welfare)
A "Welfarian" (or "welfarian") is a welfare recipient. "Welfarian" has been cited in print since at least 1978. The term "Welfarian" a high-sounding name…
Economissed (economist/economy + missed; The Economist nickname)
"Economissed" (economist/economy + missed) is a jocular term for when an economic forecast (or an economic forecaster, such as an economist) misses the mark. The weekly newspaper The…
United States of Amnesia
The United States of America has sometimes been dubbed the "United States of Amnesia." These critics charge that Americans often forget things -- usually the bad things, like slavery.…
Good Karma Jar (tip jar)
"Good Karma Jar" is another name for a tip jar, where that name or "Tipping Is Good Karma" has been printed on stickers. A March 1995 New York (NY) Times article on coffee bar…
“Ready, Freddy” (“Ready, Freddie”)
"Ready, Freddie/Freddy" is to be very ready. It is a response to "Are you ready?" asked by someone who is sometimes -- but usually not -- named "Freddy" or…
“People are dying to get in” (cemetery joke)
An old cemetery joke goes: Q. Why do they build a fence around a graveyard?A. Because people are just dying to get in. "As the saying goes, people must be just dying to get in (the cemetery --…
Money Doctor (Doctor of Medicine or MD backronym)
A doctor can hold a Ph.D. degree or an M.D. degree. However, someone with an M.D. (medicine) is more likely to make more money than someone with a Ph.D. in English literature. A popular saying…
Poor, Hungry Doctor (“Ph.D.” backronym)
A doctor can hold a Ph.D. degree or an M.D. degree. However, someone with an M.D. (medicine) is more likely to make more money than someone with a Ph.D. in English literature. A popular saying…
Master Bullshit Artist (“MBA” backronym)
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree doesn't always impress everyone and has sometimes been given the backronym (back acronym) of "Master Bullshit Artist." The nickname…
Mediocre But Arrogant (“MBA” backronym)
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree doesn't always impress everyone and has sometimes been given the backronym (back acronym) of "Mediocre But Arrogant." The nickname…
More Shit or More of the Same (Master of Science or MS backronym)
The Bachelor of Science degree is often jokingly called the B.S. ("bull shit"). The Master of Science degree (M.S.) is often given the backronym (back acronym) of "more shit" or…
Bull Shit (Bachelor of Science or BS backronym)
"B.S." has been used for "bull shit" since at least the 1910s. "B.S." also stands for the "Bachelor of Science" degree. There is no exact date for when the…
Much Deeper (Doctor of Medicine or MD backronym)
The college degrees of B.S., M.S., Ph.D. and M.D. are jokingly said to stand for "bullshit," "more shit (or "more of the same"), "piled higher and deeper" and…
“Next time, get a speaking part” (theatre joke)
It's an old joke that actors seek speaking parts, and that, in marriage, the speaking part often goes to the wife. A typical joke was cited in 1902: Why did that chorus girl quit?"…
“Paging Donner party of six” (restaurant joke)
The Donner Party is a tragic story of western United States migration in 1846-47. Mistakes and storm conditions caused the deaths of many, leading to cannibalism so that some could survive. When a…
“Better safe than sued”
"Better safe than sorry" is an old proverb. "Better safe than sued" is a modern variation of the proverb. "Better safe than sued — particularly in today 's world of…
“Politicians and roosters crow about what they intend to do. Roosters deliver”
"Roosters crow, but hens deliver (eggs)" is an old saying. "Politicians and roosters crow about what they intend to do. The difference is, roosters deliver what they promise" --…
Mediocre But Aggressive (“MBA” backronym)
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree doesn't always impress everyone and has been infrequently given the backronym (back acronym) of "Mediocre But Aggressive." The…
Paperati (paper + -ati)
"Paperari" is a portmanteau of "paper" and perhaps "literati," forming a word that resembles "paparazzi." The term comes from the precious metals blog…
Slamboni (Zamboni-like machine for U.S. Open tennis)
Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens, is the site of the tennis U.S. Open. Rain delays hampered the 2003 U.S. Open, so the stadium developed the "Slamboni" machine -- similar…