Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
A frequently reprinted saying about marriage as an institution of learning was published in many newspapers in 1930: "Matrimony, says a writer, is an institution of learning. In which a man…
A popular children's jump rope rhyme is: Motor boat, motor boat, Go so slow. Motor boat, motor boat, Go so fast. Motor boat, motor boat, Step on the gas. The jump rope acts as the motor boat,…
An old saying (in the pre-mobile devices age) is that to locate a good restaurant in a town, just check the parking lots. A crowded parking lot means that there's good food inside the…
The book Criss-Cross Applesauce (1978) by B. A. King and Tomie DePaola contains the children's rhyme: Criss-cross applesauceSpiders crawling up your back!Spiders here, Spiders there.Spiders…
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been cited in print since April 3, 1919, when this…
"If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying refers to the chemical additives in many foods -- not to the…
"An optimist laughs to forget and a pessimist forgets to laugh" was cited in print in an American newspaper from July 1922. No author was credited. "The optimist laughs to forget,…
WROL (Without Rule Of Law) describes a situation where the U.S. Constitution, for example, is no longer the law of the United States. A suspension of the Constitution and a declaration of martial…
"INCH" stands for "I'm Never Coming Home" or "I'm Not Coming Home." In the survivalist lexicon, there is an "INCH bag" or "INCH kit" to…
James Beard (1903-1985) was an American chef and cookbook author who influenced many chefs and food enthusiasts. The James Beard Foundation Awards annually honor culinary excellence in the United…
American talk radio host and author Steve Deace popularized the term "Rainbow Jihad" in 2014 and 2015. The term refers to what other conservative writers have called the "gay…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Keith BontragerKeith Bontrager (/bɒnˈtreɪɡər/; born December 18, 1954) is a motorcycle racer who became a pioneer in the development of the modern mountain…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksPrinciples of Technical WritingBy Robert HaysReading, MA: Addison-Wesley1965Pg. 2:Employees joked that "When the weight of the paperwork equals the weight…
"I am fond of long walks—when taken by some folks who annoy me" is a jocular line that was cited in a February 1932 newspaper, without attribution. "Fred Allen admits that he likes…
"TANSTAAFL" stands for "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." "TANSTAAFMWH" means "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Minimum Wage Hike.…
Tina Brown, journalist and the founder and editor of The Daily Beast, wrote the "The Gig Economy" for that online publication on January 12, 2009. "To people I know in the bottom…
"You booze, you lose" is a popular rhyme that is often used in anti-drunk driving campaigns. "With dope, there's hope, but with booze you lose" was cited in print in 1967.…
A popular redneck joke is: "You might be a redneck if......you consider a six-pack and a bug zapper to be quality entertainment." American stand-up comedian Jeff Foxworthy wrote a book of…
Nickelodeon is an American cable television network containing programming for children and adolescents. In 2008 and 2009, a channel running Nickelodeon's cartoons from the 1990s was called…
A "3-and-D" (or "three-and-D") basketball player is someone (usually a wing player, such as a small forward or a shooting guard) who can hit three-point shots and who can play…