Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"Pain makes you stronger, fear makes you braver, heartbreak makes you wiser" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. An ending of "So thank the past for a better…
'The best way to predict the future is to design it" has been credited since at least 2004 to futurst Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983). There is no evidence that Fuller ever said it.…
The word "buffet" is not an acronym, but it has been given the jocular backronym (back acronym) of "Big Ugly Fat Fuckers/Fellows/Folks/Freaks Eating Together" since at least the…
"Set the oven 180 degrees" usually means to set the oven's heat to 180 degrees -- not to turn the oven itself at an 180-degree angle. A popular joke is: "The recipe said…
"I'm running out of unproductive things to do at work" is a jocular statement that has been printed on a Rottenecard. "I'm running out of unproductive things to do at…
An old joke is still told about how to make holy water: Q: How do you make holy water?A: You boil the hell out of it! The joke has been cited in print since at least 1942. It's not known who…
Mark Twain wrote "cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education" in The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894). "Croissants are just biscuits that studied…
The movie The Addams Family (1991) featured a scene where a Girl Scout asked Wednesday Addams if her lemonade was made from real lemons: Girl Scout: I only like all-natural foods and beverages,…
"I broke up with my gym; we were just not working out" is a jocular saying that has been printed on T-shirts. "I broke up with my Gym, we were not working out" was cited on…
"All roads that lead to success have to pass through Hard Work Boulevard at some point" is a saying that has been printed on a poster. The saying has been cited in print since at least…
Nostradamus (1503-1566) was a famous seer who was known for his predictions. To call someone who makes predictions a "Nostradamus" is similar to calling a smart person an…
In 2013, Janet Yellen was nominated for Federal Reserve chair. The Federal Reserve has a well known quantitative easing (QE) program (called "money printing" by many). During…
"Age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese" is a jocular one-line saying that has appeared in many quotation collections, always credited to American actress Billie Burke…
The term "BRIC" nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China) was coined in 2001 by economist Jim O'Neill. Ten years later, in November 2011, Société Générale strategist Albert Edwards…
The term "BRIC" nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China) was coined in 2001 by economist Jim O'Neill. The Japanese company Panasonic came up with a new grouping of nations in 2010…
Entry in progress -- B.P. ,a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysander_Spooner">Wikipedia: Lysander SpoonerLysander Spooner(January 19, 1808 – May 14, 1887) was an American…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Twitterrstevens 3.01@rstevens@lamelama22 I've had MexiCoke, not sure they do the Dew. This is what @cabel was talkin' 'bout: http://bit.ly/nicepepsi7:06…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google News Archive21 August 1965, The Daily News (Virgin Islands), pg. 14, col. 1:'Power Is Where Power Goes:' LBJBy MARY McGRORYWASHINGTON. — President…
"A wise person knows that there is something to be learned from everyone" is a saying that has been printed on posters. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2006 and is of…
A "dollarocracy" means rule by those people who possess dollars. The term "dollarocracy" was used in the New York (NY) Leader in 1855 and the New York (NY) Ledger in 1860.…