Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"You are at your most vulnerable when you have just scored" is a popular saying in soccer. A team that has just scored often gets overconfident and plays soft for a few minutes. "As…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Bleacher Report -- Manchester UnitedNo Player Is Bigger Than The Club: Forget Ronaldo, Viva Wayne Rooney!By Art Braumen (Contributor) on June 27, 2009 (...)No player is…
An unwritten rule of broadcasting is that every microphone is on and every camera is on. The rule applies to people working in the broadcasting industry and to people being interviewed (such as…
"Money trumps politics" means that people will lose their political beliefs if paid enough money. For example, a radio station will air conservative talk radio -- if that programming…
"Math (always) trumps politics" means that the fiscal realities of a budget always come first; a government can't do much of anything without money. The "math" involves how…
A "sommelier" (or "wine steward") is a trained wine professional; at a fine restaurant, the sommelier can offer help in wine and food pairings. A "water sommelier" (or…
"Don't/Never let your money get mad" is a favored saying of oilman and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "One of Jones' pet phrases is: 'Never let your money get…
"If you can smile when things go wrong, then you have someone in mind to blame" is a jocular saying that has been printed on posters. "The man who can smile when things go wrong has…
"Hire a teenager while they still know everything" is a popular sign. Ann Landers gave advice in July 1967, "Confidential to Sick of Bossy Parents: So why don't you get out on…
"Why is there only one Monopolies Commission?" is a joke that appears to have started in the United Kingdom in 1978 (the Google Books date might be incorrect) or in 1981. Conservative…
"Mistakes: It could be that the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others" is a saying that has been printed on a demotivational poster. "It's possible that your…
"The brave don't live forever/long, but the cautious don't live at all" (or "Brave men don't live forever...") is a saying that has been printed on posters. The…
Many versions of the U.S. quarter --as well as other coins -- have an eagle on one side. Someone who doesn't like to spend money is said to "squeeze a quarter so tight the eagle…
The "Buffalo nickel" or "Indian Head nickel" is a U.S. five-cent piece with a buffalo design on one side and an Indian head design on the other; the coin was minted from 1913 to…
"Tighter than the skin on a grape" means very tight, such as someone tight with money or a tight sporting contest. "Tighter than the skin on a grape" has been cited in print…
Someone who is "hotter than donut/doughnut grease" is someone who is very attractive (or "hot"). The expression is also used for someone on a hot streak, and for hot weather.…
An old joke tells of a person who is so dumb (or stupid) that he or she thinks Taco Bell is a Mexican phone company. "And if you believe that, you probably also think Taco Bell is a Mexican…
Entry in progress -- B,P,[This entry was prepared with research assistance of Sam Clements of the American Dialect Society listserv and the Early Sports and Pop Culture History Blog.] Wikipedia:…
"Swapping the witch for the bitch" means trading one addiction for another addiction. For example, one might give up using illegal drugs ("the witch"), but start drinking…
"The bond market is smarter than the stock market" is a popular financial saying. The bond market has more institutional investors and the stock market has more individual (and…