“The difference between a democracy and a people’s democracy” (joke)
Austrian Socialist leader Bruno Pittermann (1905-1983) said in 1961: "The difference between a democracy and a 'people's democracy' is the difference between a jacket and a…
U’ve Been Sacked (UBS nickname)
UBS (originally the Union Bank of Switzerland) is one of the world's largest banks and has several branches in Manhattan. When Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss Bank Corporation announced a…
Seven Sisters’ Row (West 25th Street)
"Sisters' Row" (also called "Seven Sisters' Row) was located on West 25th Street, near Seventh Avenue, and was known for its houses of prostitution. As described in the…
“Never buy a Friday high” (“Never sell a Friday low”)
"Never buy a Friday high" and "Never sell a Friday low" are popular adages at DailyFX. The trends are often old news and reverse on Monday. "Price & Time: Never Buy a…
“The first rule of rescuing is don’t become the second victim”
"Don't become the second victim" has been called the first rule of rescuing. The rescuer shouldn't risk his or her life in the rescue. "Don't become the second…
“If I could sell just one…” (”$30,000 pencil” sales joke)
A popular sales story is told about a beggar selling pencils on a sidewalk -- for $30,000 a pencil. A man walks buy and tells him that no one will buy a pencil for that price. "Probably…
Marble Row (Fifth Avenue, between 57th and 58th Streets)
"Marble Row" was the row of white marble mansions on Fifth Avenue, between 57th and 58th Streets in Manhattan. Mary Mason Jones, daughter of John Mason (president of the Chemical National…
“Dance like your vagina is on fire”
"Dance like your vagina's on fire" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as bumper stickers and T-shirts. "Dance like your vaginas on fire!" was cited…
Quantitative Tightening (QT; Reverse QE)
"Quantitaive easing" (QE) increases the money supply. A "reverse QE" is "quantitative tightening" (QT). "Hard to do QE with QT (qualitative tightening)" was…
“If you play great on Friday nights, then you can play on Saturdays” (football adage)
American football has for many years consisted of high school football on Friday nights, college football on Saturdays, and professional NFL football on Sundays. Craig Thomas wrote on NCAA.com in…
“If you have no business in New York, you have no business being in New York”
New York City has a reputation as a business capital. Mark J. Bitter, a guitar business executive, said in 2015: “The family ownership decided to sell it, and the old saying is, ‘If you don’t…
“A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter” (boxing adage)
"A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter" (or "The most dangerous fighter is a happy fighter") is a boxing adage that is frequently credited to heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.…
Fulton’s Folly (North River Steamboat)
American engineer and inventor Robert Fulton (1765-1815) operated the North River Steamboat in 1807 (the Hudson River was known as the North River at that time) from New York City to Albany. Many…
Great Replacement (Grand Replacement)
French writer Renaud Camus has spoken since 2010 about the "Great Replacement" -- Muslim immigration into France that destroys the French culture, replacing France with a Muslim nation.…
Broadway’s Living Room or Broadway’s Supper Club or Broadway’s Nightclub (Feinstein’s/54 Below)
54 Below, located in the basement of the former disco Studio 54, opened in 2012 at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan. "54 Below - Broadway's Nightclub" was cited on Twitter on…
Haines Bottom (call of a market bottom on March 10, 2009)
CNBC Squawk on the Street host Mark Haines (1946-2011) went on the air on March 10, 2009 and declared that there was a bottom to the stock market. "I'm going to step out on a limb…
Soubrette Row (West 39th Street)
A "soubrette" is what a female stock character in opera and theatre was called in the late 1800s and early 1899s. New York City had a "Soubrette Row," where women employed in…
“Never underestimate the healing power of singing in a car really loud by yourself”
"Never underestimate the healing power of singing in a car really loud by yourself" is a jocular line that became popular in 2015. "Never underestimate the therapy singing in a car…
Dusty Miller (chocolate sundae with malted milk)
A "Dusty Miller" sundae is chocolate ice cream (or vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, or coffee ice cream) sprinkled with powdered malted milk. A Dusty Miller sundae was served in…
Hebrew Enemies (pork chops)
Jewish law does not permit eating pork. This fact found its way into restaurant slang, where "Hebrew enemies" became the slang for an order of pork chops. "Couple of Hebrew enemies…