Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one" is a popular quotation that has been cited in print since at least 1988, when it was credited to magazine publisher…
"Flashpacking" (flash + backpacking) is an affluent backpacker. A "flashpacker" might travel light, but has access to money and can travel expensively, if necessary. The website…
"How's my running? Call 1-800-EAT-DUST" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts (on the back) and bumper stickers. "How's my…
"Turn the rascals out" was a popular campaign slogan of 1872. Adlai Stevenson II (1900-1965) famously reversed the slogan when criticizing the Eisenhower administration in 1952.…
The "I Love New York" campaign of the 1970s featured the popular "I (heart) NY" T-shirts. Snorg Tees developed a parody T-shirt in April 2009 -- "I only like NY as a…
Above, the header from the February 18, 1924 New York (NY) Morning Telegraph newspaper column of John J. Fitz Gerald. Click to see a portion of the column which includes his use of "Big…
"Nothing happens until somebody sells something" (or "Nothing happens until something is sold") is an advertising slogan that has been used since the early 1940s. "Nothing…
"Yes My Retarded Ass Signed Up" is a backronym (back acronym) of "U.S. Army," spelled backwards as "YMRASU." "Yes My Retarded Ass Signed Up" has been cited…
"U Signed the Motherfucking Contract" is a backronym (back acronym) of "USMC" (United States Marine Corps). "U Signed the Motherfucking Contract" has been cited in…
"Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet" is a backronym (back acronym) for "U.S. Army." "U.S. Army, which many soldiers will tell you is a contraction for 'Uncle Sam…
"My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment" is a backronym (back acronym) for the word "Marine." "My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment" has been cited in print since at least November…
"Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Essential" is a backronym (back acronym) for the word "Marine." This is alleged lack of intelligence not necessarily true; it has been…
The original "Miracle at the Meadowlands" (November 18. 1978) -- also called "The Fumble" -- featured a New York Giants fumble in the closing seconds that led to a Philadelphia…
"Aren't Ready for the Marines Yet" (sometimes also "Aren't Ready to be Marines Yet" and "Aren't Really Marines Yet") is a backronym (back acronym) for…
"When my ship comes in" is an idiom meaning "when my fortune arrives." People who have bad luck (and who doubt that their ship ever will come in) have added an extra ending to…
The New York Jets lost to the New England Patriots on November 22, 2012, by the score of 49-19. The lowlight of the game for the Jets came when quarterback Mark Sanchez ran into the rear end of…
The New York Giants were leading the Philadelphia Eagles, 17-12, and all Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik had to do was down the ball one last time to end the game. He tried to hand the ball off to…
"My hotel phone has a button just for pizza" was a post on reddit in August 2013; the hotel was Country Inns & Suites (Niagara Falls, Ontario). The Huffington Post headline declared…
The stock market had all eyes on the Federal Reserve in 2013, speculating when its quantitative easing program -- involving as much as $85 billion a month -- would lessen or "taper." The…
"Grexit" (Greece/Greek + exit) was a popular term in 2012, when it was feared that a poor Greek economy would force the nation to exit the euro zone. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras…