Club Row (West 44th Street)
Manhattan's West 44th Street has many clubs, such as the Cornell Club (6 East 44th), the Harvard Club (27 West 44th), the Penn Club (30 West 44th), the New York Yacht Club (37 West 44th), the…
Translaptation (translation + adaptation)
A "translaptation" is a work that is both a translation and an adaptation of the original. Playwright David Ives popularized the term in 2010 with his "translaptation" of the…
“Hang a lantern on your problem”
"Hang a lantern on your problem" was entered into the political lexicon in the 1980s by Chris Matthews, a former chief of staff to Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip…
“Swing hard, in case you hit it”
"Swing hard in case you hit it" is the advice a baseball batter sometimes gets, especially against a hard-throwing pitcher. "Just swing, that's my philosophy," Baltimore…
“Some days, the best thing about my job is that the chair spins”
"Some days, the best things about my job is that the chair spins" is a jocular saying that hasbeenprinted on many gift items, such as posters, ecards and coffee mugs. "Sometimes the…
Land of Opportunity
The United States has often been called the "land of opportunity." The term "land of opportunity" first became cited in this context in the early 1850s. Several areas of the…
“Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have”
"Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. "NEVERRR let the things you want,, make you FORGET the things…
“I just burned 1,200 calories. I forgot the pizza in the oven”
"I just burned 1,200 calories. I forgot the pizza in the oven" is a joke that has been printed on several ecards. "I just burned 800 calories! My microwave fried my Hot Pockets…
“Everyone wants to be black until the cops show up”
"Everyone wants to be black until the cops show up" is a popular saying meaning that black culture is accepted by whites, but whites wouldn't like the part where racist cops show up.…
“Education is no substitute for intelligence”
American science fiction writer Frank Herbert (1920-1986) wrote in Chapterhouse: Dune (1985): "Education is no substitute for intelligence. That elusive quality is defined only in part by…
Knishwich (knish + sandwich)
A "knishwich" (knish + sandwich) is a knish with a filling, such as pastrami or corned beef. The Last Chance Antiques and Cheese Cafe (Tannersville, NY) has served the…
“There ought to be more dancing”
"There ought to be more dancing" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. "There ought to be more dancing" was cited on Twitter on February 17, 2009.…
Big Apple (former official drink of the Belmont Stakes)
A drink called "Big Apple" was very briefly the official drink of the Belmont Stakes in 1976. Frank Tynan, general manager of Belmont Park concessions for the Harry M. Stevens Company,…
Belmont Jewel (official drink of the Belmont Stakes)
The "Belmont Jewel" became the official drink of the Belmont Stakes in 2011. The drink contains bourbon, lemonade and pomegranate juice and is garnished with a lemon wedge or a cherry.…
“Do not ask God to guide your footsteps if you’re not willing to move your feet”
"Do not ask God to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. "Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps,…
“Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go”
"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go" is a saying that has been printed on many posters and that was first published in several newspapers in 1930.…
“A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants”
"A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants" is a saying that originated in the 1940s. "There are only 18 inches between a pat on the back and a kick…
“Turn in your weapons. The government will take care of you”
"Turn in your arms/guns/weapons. The government will take care of you" is a saying that has been printed on many posters, usually with a picture of Native Americans. The anti-gun control…
“The stock price is a hollow god”
John Sawyer Carroll (1942-2015) of the Baltimore (MD)
“Ice hockey players can walk on water”
"Ice hockey players can walk on water" isa saying that has beenprinted on posters and T-shirts. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2002. “Ice hockey is technically a…