Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Entry in progress -- B.P. Twitter Donna Eliassen@DonnaEliassenKeep your business in town to keep your town in business. Keep your business in the country to keep your country in business!…
"Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable" has frequently been credited to the writer Mark Twain (1835-1910), but there is no evidence that the line was said during his…
The "Happy Waitress" is a diner classic dish that consists of an open-face grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and bacon, usually served with a side order of french fries. The dish has…
Airbus is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. People who believe that its planes are not safe have nicknamed the company "Scarebus" (or…
Boeing is an aircraft manufacturing company with corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. "If It's Not Boeing, I'm Not Going" is a slogan that Boeing itself has promoted…
“Even if you fall on your face, you’re still moving forward" has been credited to American businessman and New England Patriots owner Victor Kiam (1926-2001) since at least 2004, but there…
"Resentment is like drinking/taking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies" has been credited to Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), but the earliest citations do not appear to come…
Amadou Hampâté Bâ (1901-1991), a Malian writer and ethnologist, is credited for saying before UNESCO in 1960: "En Afrique, quand un vieillard meurt, c’est une bibliothèque qui…
In the comedy film Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), television news anchorman Ron Burgundy (played by actor Will Ferrell) takes a job with e 24-hour news channel in New York City.…
When 'Big Apple" was re-popularized by the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau in the 1970s, many ideas about the "Big Apple" origin were put forward. New York (NY) Times…
There are lawyer jokes and there are also judge jokes. A popular lawyer/judge joke is: Q: What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 50?A: Your Honor. The joke has been cited in print since at least…
The drowning lawyer (or lawyers) joke has been one of the most popular of lawyer jokes. THe following joke has been cited in print since at least 1994: Q: What do you throw to a drowning lawyer?A:…
The New York Mets hold an annual Christmas party for New York City schoolchildren. The "Santa Claus curse" holds that the Mets player who dresses up as Santa Claus the following year…
"Potential is what gets you (coaches) fired" is a popular sports saying. Players are often acquired based on potential, such as great athletic attributes. It's a coach's…
Buffalo Wild Wings is a fast food restaurant chain specializing in Buffalo-style chicken wings that was founded in 1982. The name "B-Dubs" for Buffalo Wild Wings was trademarked by the…
Entry in progress -- B.P.A similar term to "snowmageddon" is "snowpocalypse" (snow + apocalypse). "Gobblegeddon" (gobble + Armageddon) is when a…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Urban DictionaryZymocenosilicaphobiaFear of an empty beer glassWhen your beer glass is empty and you get scared, its happened to all of us!by Jezza September 22, 2004…
Entry in progress -- B.P.A similar term to "snowpocalypse" is "snowmageddon" (snow + Armageddon). TwitterBrad Sucks@bradsucksit's the snowpocalypse!7:46 AM - 16 Dec 07…
Cut an apple horizontally, and one often sees a five-seed star pattern. The five seeds are said to represent the five boroughs of New York City. This was posted on Twitter on December 16, 2013:…
"Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted" is a popular quotation credited to Russian political leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924).…