Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. "More often than not, successful entrepreneurs are givers…
"Things turn/work out best for those who make the best of how things turn/work out" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. "Things turn out for the best for those who…
Rob Berger, a litigation attorney and founder of The Dough Roller website, wrote the article "Top 100 Money Quotes of All Time" for Forbes.com on April 30, 2014. The last quote was:…
"Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records" is an motivational saying that has been printed on posters and T-shirts. American author William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) has…
"Your self-worth is more important than your net worth" is a popular saying that has been credited to several people. "Self worth is better than net worth" was cited in print in…
"If you can't stop thinking about it, don't stop working for it" isa motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. "If you can't stop thinking about it,…
"Faith makes all things possible; Love makes all things easy; Hope makes all things work" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. "Faith makes all things possible, and…
"From soup to nuts" is an old expression meaning everything, from beginning (soup) to end (nuts). "Nuts," however, is also slang for "crazy," prompting this 1935 joke:…
"Biology is the only science in which multiplication means the same thing as division" is a popular biology joke. Cells multiply when a cell divides. "Biology is the only science in…
A jocular definition of a gossip columnist is: "Gossip columnist -- one who writes other's wrongs." The definition has been cited in print since at least 1964. It's not known…
The word "abundance" does not mean "a bun dance," but there is a joke definition: "Abundance: Big party held in a bakery." The joke has been cited in print since 2000…
"Your value does not decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth" is a saying that has been printed on many posters and an ecard. The saying was cited on Twitter on…
Paul H. Gilbert's syndicated newspaper column of "Daffynitions" (humorous or "daffy" definitions) included the following in January 1947: "MISER: A man who lets the…
A "rains/reins" pun from 1878 is: "When are the clouds like jockeys? When they hold the rains." The joke was repopularized (or reinvented) in the 2000s. "Why are clouds…
Paul H. Gilbert's syndicated newspaper column of "Daffynitions" (humorous or "daffy" definitions) included the following in October 1947: "RACE TRACK: A place where…
"Why are people who ride motorcycles called bikers and people who ride bikes called cyclists?" asked American author Richard Lederer in "English Is A Crazy Language," an essay…
"Toilet-to-tap" (or "toilet to tap") is another term for "recycled water." The term is unpalatable to some, with a clear reminder of the source (the toilet) of the…
"Don't wish for it -- work for it" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. "Don't wish for it, work for it!" was in a 1921 classified…
"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. American author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn (1930-2009) wrote…
A corny old golf joke goes: Q: Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants? A: In case he got a hole in one. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1946. 21 June 1946, Bowie (TX) News,…