Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Jerome K. JeromeJerome Klapka Jerome (2 May 1859 – 14 June 1927) was an English writer and humorist, best known for the comic travelogue Three Men in a Boat…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksMiddle and High School Teaching: Methods, Standards, and Best PracticesBy James A. DuPlassBoston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co.2006Pg. 280:Prior to a test, announce…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Luck LucianoCharles "Lucky" Luciano (pronounced /luːtʃˈɑːnɵ/; born Salvatore Lucania November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962), was an…
"Freadom" (freedom + read) is a word that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, T-shirts and bumper stickers. The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression…
Entry in progress -- B.P. The Internet Movie DatabaseI Think I Love My Wife (2007)QuotesMr. Landis: You can lose lots of money chasing women, but you will NEVER lose women chasing money.…
Tax Freedom Day is the day of the year when an individual has earned enough to pay his or her taxes; all earnings after that date belong to the individual. An earlier Tax Freedom Day means a lower…
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has a mission to protect market users and the public from fraud, manipulation, and abusive practices related to the sale of commodity and…
Something (or someone) with the qualities of Brooklyn is "Brooklynesque." The term "Brooklynesque" has been cited in print since at least 1891, but became popularized since the…
Koi Restaurant, at Trump SoHo (246 Spring Street), debuted a sake-based "Big Apple" cocktail for National Sake Day on October 1, 2013. The "Big Apple" cocktail also contains an…
Entry in progress -- B.P, photo.netWhat do you worry about the most?Robert McCurley , Apr 08, 2005; 09:44 a.m.This quote was posted by a fellow member in my camera club's forum ...The Amateur…
"Shut happens" (shut + shit happens) is a popular sign on closed businesses. The sign has bee cited in print since at least 2006. In October 2013, "Shut Happens" was used to…
"Bubblecovery" (a bubble-driven recovery) is a term that was was coined by American economic analyst Jesse Colombo in May 2012. The U.S. Federal Reserve led the "recovery" from…
"Shamparency" (sham + transparency) is a fake transparency -- someone is pretending that all is there to see, but that person is actually hiding something. "Transparency,…
"Shutdown theater" refers to the posturing that Democrats and Republicans make in blaming the other over a government shutdown. "Government Shutdown Theater" was cited in print…
The 2013 success of the "cronut" (croissant + doughnut) inspired many knockoffs. Urban Taco (in Dallas and other Texas cities) introduced the "churrnut" (churro + doughnut) in…
"Coffee break's over! Back on your heads!" is the punchline of a popular joke. A man is sent to hell and the devil gives him three alternatives. The first two are terrifying. In the…
The National Security Agency was formed in 1962 to improve foreign intelligence within the United States government. The agency was so secret (especially in its early years) that even its existence…
Perry's Ice Cream (located in Akron, New York) makes "Panda Paws" ice cream -- vanilla ice cream with mini peanut butter cups and swirls of thick, rich fudge. The peanut butter cups…
"I never promised you a rose garden" is a saying that was popularized as the title of a 1964 book by Hannah Green, the pen name of Brooklyn-born author Joanne Greenberg. The novel is…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksHam with Wry: Appearing in the Indiana Evening GazetteBy J. K. StonerIndiana, PA: A.G. Halldin Pub.1980Pg. 47:"Just as confusing and trite are these…