Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"When people rob banks, they go to jail. When banks rob people, they get bonuses" became a popular saying in 2011. "When people rob banks, They are thrown into tanks. When banks rob…
"Business without profit is not business any more than a pickle is candy" was said by Charles F. Abbott (1876-1936), Executive Director of the American Institute of Steel Construction, at…
"To be a success in business: Be daring, be first, be different" has been cited in print since at least 1970. "Marchant" was credited in 1981, "Henry Marchant" was…
"If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up" is a jocular one-line saying written by American computer scientist Alan Jay Perlis (1922-1990) in his…
"An opportunity always looks bigger going than coming" was cited in print in May 1922 in the syndicated newspaper column "Smile a While" with Tom Sims. It's hard to see…
"Great Under Major Pressure (GUMP)" is a popular term in South Florida high school football, where it began. Miami (FL) Northwestern High School starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and…
"Father Time is undefeated" means that age catches up and eventually defeats all athletes. American football analyst Michael Irvin made the comment about quarterback Brett Favre in…
New York City point guards having a reputation for being excellent dribblers in street basketball games, but some observers complain that the point guards seemingly don't know how to pass the…
The nicknames of "Mayor Pothole" (or "Pothole Mayor") and "Senator Pothole" generally indicate a politiician who pays attention to constituent services. Al…
A bad cook burns the food, but an epically bad cook "can burn water." "Cpl. Agarn (on the television comedy F-Troop -- ed.), who can burn water, becomes the troop cook, with…
"If/When you think, you stink" is a sports adage. A player should react naturally to what's going on in the game; if the player is thinking too much, then the player isn't…
"Real estate is a relationship business" is a popular real estate adage of unknown authorship. "And with senior Americans, real estate is a relationship business" was cited in…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Sit-inA sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more people occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or…
A regulation basketball game consists of four quarters. (Overtime is held if the score remains tied.) The fourth quarter is usually decisive, but some basketball stars are criticized for not…
The Cable News Network (CNN), a 24-hour cable news channel, was founded by Ted Turner and first broadcast on June 1, 1980. The unflattering CNN nickname of "Criminal News Network" has…
"Peanutzi" or "peanazi" (peanut + Nazi) is a term-- similar to "feminazi" (feminist + Nazi) -- that describes a militant anti-peanut activist. Some people suffer from…
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is a channel that is available on some cable systems in the United States. The CBC has been given the backronym (back acronym) of “Communist…
"Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies" (or "Nana never runs out of hugs or cookies") is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as signs, T-shirts…
The Brooklyn Bolts became one of four teams to open the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL), a professional football minor league, in 2014. The team name of "Brooklyn Bolts" was…
Newspapers often apply a "breakfast test" -- can a person eating breakfast also read the newspaper without throwing up? The "breakfast test" means that overly graphic photos,…