Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
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…
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 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 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" 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" is an old line of unknown authorship. "He (Charles Haddon Spurgeon -- ed.) is a self-taught man, and contrary to…
"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" 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…
"That's all she wrote" means "that's it," "that's the end," "nothing more to say." The origin of the saying is unknown. It has been thought…
A rhyme about planners has been cited in print since at least 1959: Planners are a curious lot, They wear not sword nor pistol. They walk stooped over -- never trot, Because their balls are…
"Some people are so poor, all they have is money" is a popular saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying means that some people, despite having money, are spiritually poor.…
"If you drink like a fish, swim -- don't drive" is a popular bumper sticker. "If you drink like a fish, don't drive. swim" was cited in print in July 1959 and credited…
A popular piano riddle is: Q: What do you get when you drop a piano on an army base? A: A flat major. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1977. "What do you get when you drop a…
New York City-born college basketball coach and commentator Al McGuire (1928-2001) was known for his colorful language. He was quoted by Sports Illustrated in 1976: "If the waitress has dirty…
"Cheapatarian" has been cited since at least 1999 and has been infrequently used to describe someone who likes cheap things (not necessarily food). "Cheapatarian" (cheap +…
A "ranchion" (ranch + mansion) is a ranch-style mansion. The ranch-style houses that were built post-World War II from the 1940s to the 1970s were usually one story buildings and…
Grantland Rice (1880-1954) wrote, "For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name; He marks -- not that you won or lost -- but how you played the Game." American author…
A "thrilledy" (thriller + comedy) is a play or film that's part thriller, part comedy. "Retiring to my couch to watch a thrilledy (thriller/comedy) called 'Shallow…
A "ranchion" (ranch + mansion) is a ranch-style mansion. The ranch-style houses that were built post-World War II from the 1940s to the 1970s were usually one story buildings and…
Gunnar Myrdal (1898-1987) and Friedrich von Hayek (1899-1992) shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in Economics, even though the former supported left-wing socialism and the latter supported right-wing free…