“If you can hit, you can play” (baseball adage)
The ability to successfully hit a baseball is a rare skill. If a player can hit, a baseball team will find a place for that player -- even if it's just the designated hitter. "If you can…
Curtain Call
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Curtain callA curtain call (often known as a walkdown or a final bow) occurs at the end of a performance when one or more performers return to the stage to be…
“Three umpires are sitting in a bar…” (baseball joke)
Professor Harvey Cantril's story about three umpires talking about how they call balls and strikes has been cited in print since at least 1957. The first umpire calls them as he sees them, and…
“Strong is the new skinny”
"Strong is the new skinny" is a fitness saying that has been printed on many posters and T-shirts."is at the gym working her ass off into a smaller version of itself. Strong is the…
“I’d rather be someone’s shot of whiskey than everyone’s cup of tea”
"I'd rather be someone's shot of espresso/tequila/vodka/whiskey than everyone's cup of tea" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. Someone's…
“You gotta love it, baby!” (basketball catchphrase)
"You gotta love it" is often said about something amazing or unusual (or both). In sports, "you gotta love it" originally meant that a player had to love the game or get out.…
“Diplomacy without force is like an orchestra without instruments”
"Diplomacy without force is like an orchestra without instruments" is a saying that has been credited to several people, such as Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821), Frederick II (1712-1786)…
America’s Mayor
"America's mayor" is a term that has been applied to an exemplary mayor of an American city. Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell (from 1992-2000) was called "America's…
“I would rather be governed by the first hundred names in the telephone book”
American conservative author and journalist William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925-2008) -- who went to Yale University -- didn't think that academics necessarily made great legislators. The New York…
Otto (football linebacker position)
"Sam, Mike and Will" (strongside, middle and weakside) are popular linebacker names, but there is also "Otto." The name "Otto" was coined by Jacksonville Jaguars head…
TPTSB or PTSB (The Powers That Shouldn’t Be)
"The powers that be, are ordeined of God” is from Romans XIII.1 of the King James Bible (1611). The term “the powers that be” has been used to describe other higher powers, such as those…
TPTB or PTB (The Powers That Be)
"The powers that be, are ordeined of God" is from Romans XIII.1 of the King James Bible (1611). The term "the powers that be" has been used to describe other higher powers, such…
“The toes you step on today may be connected to the ass you’ll kiss tomorrow”
"The toes you step on today may be connected to the ass you will have to kiss tomorrow" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many posters and ecards. "Beware the toes you…
First Attempt In Learning (“fail” backronym)
"First Attempt In Learning" is a backronym (back acronym) of the word "fail." The "fail" backronym has been printed on many posters. "FAIL most def.. First…
“He cast down ten commandments. The two most important are…” (TV news joke)
American journalist and historian David Halberstam told a town meeting at Yale University in November 1974 that television condenses the news. If Moses had received the Ten Commandments in the…
“I’m not fat—I’m just so sexy, it overflows”
"I'm not fat -- I'm just so sexy, it overflows" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many posters and ecards. The saying has been on Twitter since September 21, 2010.…
“Never hook with a hooker” (boxing adage)
"Don't/Never hook with a hooker" is a boxing adage. The origin of the expression is unknown, but it was applied at the "Fight of the Century" between Muhammad Ali and Joe…
“Shrink it and pink it” (men’s to women’s sportswear)
Sports apparel manufacturers had a standard method when adding a women's line -- to take the men's product, shrink it, and then color it pink. The process became known in the sportswear…
Airport Test (Pittsburgh Airport Test)
The "airport test" (also called the "Pittsburgh airport test") is one tool of employee selection. The interviewer asks himself or herself how it would feel being snowed in at…
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going!”
"Don't watch the clock; do what it does Keep going!" has been printed on many posters, with credit usually given to Brooklyn-born humorist Sam Levenson (1911-1980). Levenson included…