“Society gets the police force it deserves”
"The people get the government they deserve" is an old saying. ""Every country gets the police force that it deserves" was cited in 1922 by English criminology expert Basil…
“The internet is full of cats because dog people go outside”
"The internet is full of cats because dog people actually go outside" is a jocular one-line saying. "The internet is full of cats because dog people go outside" was cited on…
“There are two kinds of people in this world: givers and takers”
The advice columnist "Dear Abby" (Abigail Van Buren) wrote in April 1966: "There are two kinds of people in this world: the givers and the takers. (...) The takers may eat better,…
“Cheese is basically happiness that you can melt”
"Cheese is basically happiness that you can melt" is a jocular one-line saying. "Cheese is basically happiness that you can melt" was cited on Twitter on December 29, 2013.…
“The center of a donut is 100% fat free”
"The center of a donut is 100% fat free" is a jocular line that has been printed on posters. "The center of a donut is 100% fat free" was cited on JoyReactor on August 24, 2011.…
“Is it called NASCAR because that’s the way a hillbilly pronounces ‘nice car’?”
"NASCAR" stands for "National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing." "Is it called NASCAR because that’s the way a hillbilly pronounces 'nice car'?" is a…
“Coffee is not just a beverage. It’s a cup of liquid sanity!”
"Coffee is not just a beverage. It's a cup of liquid sanity!" is a jocular saying that has been printed on T-shirts and posters. "Off to go make coffee...Mel needs a cup of…
“A hug in a mug” (coffee, hot cocoa, soup, tea)
"A hug in a mug" has been used to describe coffee, hot cocoa, soup and tea. "There's a hug in every mug" was trademarked for Carnation Hot Cocoa Mix (owned by Nestlé) with…
“If your hands don’t look like you just delivered a baby after eating wings…not enough hot sauce”
"If your hands don't look like you just delivered a baby when you finish eating wings....not enough hot sauce" is a jocular saying that has been popular on Twitter. The saying was…
“Drinking town with a football problem” (various cities)
"A drinking town with a football problem" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many T-shirts: . September 1994 (Iowa State): "AMES IOWA A good drinking town with a football…
“You can’t script October” (baseball adage)
Fox Sports covered the 2004 Major League Baseball playoffs and used a popular tagline, "You can't script October." "You can't script October" was filed for a trademark…
Parklet
The term "parklet" == meaning a small park -- has been cited in print since at least 1967. In 2001, Hamilton (Ontario) began "parking meter parties" at parking spaces. In 2005,…
“Play like you’re in first; train like you’re in second”
American track and field sprinter Maurice Greene said in 1997: "To be number one you must train like you're number two. Because if you train like you're number one, you have no place…
“Why are doctors so afraid of apples, anyway?”
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is an old saying. There is a jocular response: "Why are doctors so afraid of apples, anyway?" "Why are doctors afraid of…
“It takes good hitters to be a good hitting coach” (baseball adage)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Halos Heaven (Los Angeles Angels)Fire Hatcher? Five Myths About MLB Hitting CoachesBy Suboptimal on Aug 20, 2010, 2:31p (...)Myth #1: Only good hitters can be good hitting…
“If the wheels aren’t turning, you’re not earning” (trucking adage)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Washington (DC) PostStoryline ⋅ The way we workThe Department of Transportation wants truckers to sleep more. Congress said no.The cromnibus temporarily rolled back some…
“All Cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is Cognac”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksWine without Frills: Everyday Enjoyment of Imported Wines and SpiritsBy the Schenley Import CorporationNew York, NY: Schenley Import Corporation1939Pg.…
“In queso emergency, go to your nearest TexMex restaurant”
"In queso emergency, go to your nearest TexMex restaurant" is a jocular saying that was cited on Twitter on November 20, 2012. "I always keep a Mexican restaurant on speed dial in…
“In queso emergency, I pray to Cheesus”
"In queso emergency, (I) pray to Cheesus" is a jocular saying that has been printed on posters and T-shirts. "IN QUESO EMERGENCY I PRAY TO CHEESUS" was cited on The Lolbrary on…
Thucydides Trap
The "Thucydides Trap" refers to the Athenian historian Thucydides (460-400 B.C.), who wrote, “It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this inspired in Sparta that made war…