Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"It doesn’t matter how much milk you spill, just so long as you don’t lose the cow" was popularized by business author Harvey Mackay, who used this line in his book, Swim With the…
"A few oil wells make ranching a fine business" is a Texas saying that has been said to date to the 1950s, when oil was discovered on many Texas ranches. "The farmers and ranchers…
"What's in the well comes up in the bucket" is a metaphor meaning that what's in someone's heart will come out of the mouth. "What is in the well will be in the…
"Grinning like a jackass eating briars" means someone who gives a very wide smile and shows a lot of teeth. "Grins at her across the caldron after the fashion of a horse eating…
"Terrorganda" (terror + propaganda) occurs when a government tells its citizens to prepare for an often unspecified terror threat, as the United States did in August 2013 when it closed…
A "securitocracy" (security + -ocracy) is a government where security runs the state; government officials are "securitocrats." The term "securitocracy" has been cited…
"Hangry" (hungry + angry) is a term for anger induced by hunger. If a restaurant is slow to deliver food, the customers could get "hangry." "Hangry for hungry and…
A "Ramen Burger" is a hamburger with a ramen noodle bun. The dish was created by Keizo Shimamoto and was served at Brooklyn's Smorgasburg in August 2013. The burger also contains…
Quality Italian Steakhouse opened in 2013 at Sith Avenue and West 57th Street in Manhattan. One specialty of the menu was "Chicken Parmigiana (For Two)," but the dish looked like a giant…
A "sushi burrito" is sushi wrapped like a burrito -- either in a tortilla, in seaweed, or in a thin sheet of soy paper. "Sushirrito" (sushi + burrito) is a registered trademark…
"I'm eating just in case I get hungry in the future" is a jocular saying that has become popular on Twitter. The saying first appeared on Twitter with several tweets on November 14,…
"MATH: Mental Abuse To Humans" is a jocular backronym that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and bumper stickers. "Math = Mental Abuse To Humans"…
"If they liked it once, they'll love it twice" is a philosophy of Hollywood and Broadway, resulting in many sequels, revivals and copycat productions of a successful original.…
"Never make the first or last out at third base" is a baseball adage. A player sometimes has the option of stopping safely at second base or trying to reach third base. A player on second…
"If you think you're going to hit into a double play, strike out" is a joke line that a baseball manager tells one of his players. "Earl Weaver always said, 'If you feel…
"It's a great game, but it's a crappy/terrible/tough business" has been said about many sports. "It's a great game, but it's a tough business" was said about…
"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…