“The horse doesn’t know what its odds are” (horse racing adage)
"The horse doesn't know what its odds are" is a horse racing adage of unknown authorship. "A horse doesn't know what the odds are" was said in 1971 by a fan called…
Fixer-upper
"Fixer upper" was frequently used in the 1930s to mean a person who fixes things up. In the 1940s, houses that needed work were advertised -- at presumed lower prices -- for these…
“Nobody buys houses in the winter” (real estate adage)
"Nobody buys houses in the winter" (especially December and January) is a real estate adage of unknown authorship. There are many explanations for this -- the weather is cold, it's…
“It’s easier to get to the top than it is to stay there”
"It's easier to get to the top than it is to stay there" is a popular saying in entertainment, sports and business. "It is much easier to reach the top of the ladder than it is…
“If a play is working, keep running it” (sports adage)
"If a play is working, keep running it" is a sports adage used in football, but also in other sports such as basketball. If a football team can't stop the run, for example, then the…
“Respect everybody but fear nobody” (sports adage)
A popular sports philosophy is to "respect everybody but fear nobody." "We'll respect everyone, but fear no one" was said by a football coach in 1949. "Respect…
“The Irish gave the bagpipes to the Scots as a joke, but the Scots haven’t seen the joke yet”
"The Irish gave the bagpipes to the Scots as a joke, but the Scots haven't seen the joke yet" is a classic joke about that musical instrument. "One of the favorite wisecracks of…
“Never approach a dock faster than you are willing to hit it” (boating adage)
"Never approach a dock faster than you are willing to hit it" is a boating adage of unknown authorship. "Never approach a dock any faster than you want to hit it!!" was cited in…
“Right to rise”
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) popularized the term "right to rise"in an 1848 speech in the Unites States House of Representatives. Lincoln, referring to the Texas revolution from Mexico,…
“Wealth: Income that is at least $100 more a year than the income of one’s wife’s sister’s husband”
American journalist and author H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) wrote in A Book of Burlesques (1916): "Wealth. Any income that is at least $100 more a year than the income of one's wife's…
Romoing
Tony Romo became the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys during the 2006 season. He did not experience playoff success, and "Romoing" became a term for choking or failure.…
“Homebrewing is my hobby; beer is my reward”
"Homebrewing is my hobby. Beer is my reward" has been printed on many T-shirts. "#Homebrewing is my #hobby...#beer is my #reward" was cited on Twitter on May 31, 2014. It's…
“What comes easy won’t last; what lasts won’t come easy”
"What comes easy won't last; what lasts won't come easy" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. "What comes easy won't always last. What lasts…
“It’s the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Very Good”
"It's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Very Good" means that someone who is just "very good" isn't special enough to be voted into a sports hall of fame. "Nine…
“What’s the difference between a plumber and a politician?” (joke)
"What's the difference between a plumber and a politician?" begins an old joke. "At the end of the day at least the dirt/slime washes off of a plumber." It's not known…
“He’s smoking at a gas station because he’s about to blow up!”
"He's smoking at a gas station because he's about to blow up!" was a catchphrase of Stuart Scott (1965-2015) on ESPN's SportsCenter. The saying means that a player is about…
“With a few exceptions, the best players are also the hardest workers”
Basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson wrote in his autobiography, My Life (1992): "But the fans never see how hard these players work in practice. They didn't see Larry Bird…
“As cool as the other side of the pillow”
A player who is "as cool as the other side of a pillow" is someone who is calm under pressure. Stuart Scott (1965-2015), an anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter, popularized the catchphrase…
“A fool and his money are lucky enough to get together in the first place”
"A fool and his money are soon parted" is a popular English proverb that dates to the 1500s. "A fool and his money are lucky ever to have gotten together in the first place" is…
“Keep the dream alive! Hit the snooze button”
"Keep the dream alive! Hit the snooze button" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2005. 45-Caliber…