“Nuclear fusion is just 30 years away—and always will be”
"Nuclear fusion is just 30 years away -- and always will be" is an old joke about an energy source that has long failed to be commercially viable. "Brazil is the country of the…
“I quit my job crushing cans. It was soda pressing”
"Soda pressing" is a pun for "so depressing." A rock song titled "Soda Pressing" by the punk group Boys was released in 1977. "He had a soft drink while catching…
“The world is your lobster”
"The world is your oyster" is an old proverb. "The world is your lobster" is a jocular variant that was said by the character Arthur Daley (played by George Cole) on the British…
“The more captains you have on the field the better” (soccer adage)
A soccer team has the positions of "captain" and "vice-captain." A general adage is that it's better for a team to have its captains playing on the field. "I've…
“Your pay raise becomes effective when you do”
"Note left in employe's pay envelope; 'Your pay raise becomes effective when you do'" was cited in a 1967 newspaper. The origin is unknown. "Your pay raise becomes…
“Check yourself before you wreck yourself”
American rapper Ice Cube released the single "Check Yo Self" in 1993 and popularized the line, "check yourself before you wreck yourself." "If you're not down with…
“How many Microsoft engineers does it take to change a light bulb?” (joke)
Microsoft Corporation's Windows operating system is so dominant in the computer industry that there is a popular joke: Q: How many Microsoft engineers does it take to screw in a light bulb? A:…
“Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it”
"Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it" is a popular line to avoid travelers' diarrhea from foods and drinks. The New Zealand Department of Health produced the booklet…
Hudson Mustache
The term "Hudson (River) mustache" was popularized in the New York (NY) Times article "River Grime? Triathletes Are Swimming in It" by Lindsay Crouse, published on August 3.…
Bragging Rights
When the New York Giants play the New York Jets in preseason, it's for "bragging rights" -- the right to brag about being the best team in New York City, even if the game itself is…
“I didn’t think wearing orthopaedic shoes would help my posture, but now I stand corrected”
"I didn't think wearing orthopaedic shoes would help my posture," an old joke goes, "but now I stand corrected." The joke has been told several times by television…
Wossamotta U or Whatsamatta U (fictional university)
"Whatsamatta" is dialect speech for "what's the matter." "Whatsamatta witcha?" was cited in 1925 in the comic strip Reg'lar Fellers by Gene Byrnes…
Runsploring (running + exploring); Runsplorer
"Runsploring" (running + exploring) allows a person to both run and explore, with stops made at interesting locations. A "runsploring" group began in San Francisco on June 13,…
“Last one in is a rotten egg”
"The last one in (the water) is a rotten egg!" is what some children say just before swimming. A "rotten egg" -- meaning a worthless or contemptible person -- is old slang.…
“Probe with bayonets”
"Probe with bayonets. If you encounter steel, withdraw. If you encounter mush, continue" is credited to Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924). THe book The Unknown Lenin: From the…
“A defenseman needs 300 games to learn how to play” (hockey adage)
A popular adage in hockey is that it take a defensemen 200 to 300 games to really learn how to play the position. "You know as well as I do that a player becomes a real player, a pro, with 300…
“Sun’s out, guns out”
"Sun's out, guns out" is a popular saying that has been printed on many shirts. "Gun" is slang for "biceps." When the summer sun is out, it's time to get the…
“Enough about me. What do YOU think about me?” (actor joke)
An old joke is told about a self-absorbed actor who then says, "But enough enough about me. Let's talk about you. What do you think about me?" The joke was cited in Punch magazine in…
Generation Remuneration
Entry in progress -- B.P. The Telegraph (UK)Money talks: Brits say pay package most important concern when jobseeking'Generation Perspiration', which was just grateful to have a job, has…
Generation Perspiration
Entry in progress -- B.P. The Telegraph (UK)Money talks: Brits say pay package most important concern when jobseeking'Generation Perspiration', which was just grateful to have a job, has…