“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…
“You don’t choose boxing; boxing chooses you”
"You don't choose boxing; boxing chooses you" is a boxing saying of unknown authorship. Boxing, for someone from a poor neighborhood, is sometimes the only profession to choose.…
“Vines creep, then leap” (“first year it sleeps, second year it creeps, third year it leaps”)
There is a popular saying about ivy: "The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps and the third year it leaps." The saying has been cited in print since at least 1960, when it was…
“Vote for Nobody” (satire)
"Vote for Nobody" is a satirical campaign that has been printed on bomper stickers and T-shirts. Nobody will lower the deficit. Nobody will stop the wars. Nobody will balance the budget.…
“War is a racket”
"War is a racket" and "Is war a racket?" became the topic of national conversation in 1933-35. "Arming for war is a racket of international proportions" was cited in…
“See you later, alligator; after a while, crocodile”
"See you later, alligator!""After a while, crocodile!" "See you later, alligator!" is 1950s teen slang for "goodbye." "After a while, crocodile"…
“It’s cheaper to send a kid to Yale than it is to jail”
"It's cheaper to send a kid to Yale than to send a kid to jail. Penn State is cheaper than the State pen," said U.S. President George H. W. Bush while campaigning for re-election in…
“Salt, sugar, sex—the deeper you go, the sweeter it gets”
Medical students remember the three layers of the adrenal cortex, from outer to inner, with: "Salt, sugar, sex -- the deeper you go, the sweeter it gets." "The layers of the adrenal…
“No milkweed, no monarchs” (gardening adage)
Monarch butteflies need milkweed to feed on and to lay their eggs. In recent years, herbicides have destroyed milkweed, and with it the population of monarch butterflies. "No milkweed, no…
“My credit card company says I have an outstanding balance. I’m flattered”
An "outstanding balance" means that money is owed, but it's often joked that an "outstanding balance" means a wonderful or exceptional balance. "It is so nice to…
“You can’t make everybody happy. You’re not a Nutella jar”
"You can't make everybody happy you're not a NUTELLA jar" was cited on Twitter on August 19, 2014. Nutella is the brand name of an Italian sweetened hazelnut chocolate spread.…
“Rap is all about poor people bragging about being rich”
"If country lyrics are all about being poor and rap is all about being rich, what is the middle class of music genre’s?" is an jocular line that was cited on Twitter on August 9, 2011.…
“‘I hate tacos!’ said no Juan ever”
"...said no one ever" is an Internet meme that became popular in January 2012. People thought of "...said no Juan ever," and Mexican food was added to the first part of the…