Mythical National Championship (MNC)
College football's season ends with a series of bowl games, but there is no playoff system. A national champion is declared by the sportswriters, but not through a championship tournament. The…
Ranchize or Ranchise (add ranch dressing to food)
To "ranchize" (or "ranchise") food is to add ranch dressing to it. "Ranchize" was the Word of the Day on the Food Republic blog on November 16, 2002: "To ranchize…
G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time)
The boxer Muhammad Ali (then called Cassius Clay; 1942-2016) said "I'm the greatest (heavyweight of all time)" since at least 1962. A 1977 biographical film about Ali was titled The…
“Momentum is only as good as the next day’s starter” (baseball adage)
"Momentum is only as good as the next day's starter" is a baseball adage credited to manager Earl Weaver (1930-2013), although it's not certain when he said it. "What was…
Window-shopping
Store window displays are often elaborate and are intended to attract the attention of people on the sidewalk. "Window Shopping" has been cited in print since at least 1875, when it…
Duckeasy (foie gras “speakeasy”)
Foie gras is made out of the fattened liver of a duck or goose. Some American municipalities sought to ban the product because of alleged ill treatment -- such as forced feeding -- of the animals.…
Buzz Bar (coffee and alcohol bar)
A "buzz bar" is a coffee bar or coffeehouse that serves alcohol as well as coffee. The term "buzz bar" was popularized by the article "New buzz bars serve beer and wine, as…
Breastaurant (breast + restaurant)
A "breastaurant" (breast + restaurant) is a restaurant where the waitresses wear sexually appealing costumes, such as those that emphasize the bosom. The formula of food and…
Pizza Upskirt (Pizza Undercarriage)
An "upskirt" photo captures what's under a female's skirt; a "pizza upskirt" photo captures the back of the pizza. A flickr photo was taken on April 3, 2005 of the…
Cornicione (end crust of a pizza)
The cornicione (COR-nich-ee-OH-nah) of a pizza is the end crust. The word is from the Italian and describes the "cornice" or "outer ledge" of a pizza. "Cornicione"…
Leopard-spotting or Leoparding (charred “leopard spots” on pizza)
"Leopard spots" (also called "leopard-spotting" or "leoparding") are the black charred spots on the end crust (cornicione) of a pizza. The term is sometimes used for…
Tip Sag (pizza slice tip sag)
"Tip sag" is the degree to which a slice of Neapolitan pizza sags. The tip is usually loaded with hot, gooey cheese. On the pizza blog Serious Eats -- Slice, Adam Kuban wrote on May 18,…
Elimination Diet (Exclusion Diet)
The term "elimination diet" was popularized by Dr. Albert Holmes Rowe (1889-1970) in his books Food Allergy (1931) and Elimination Diets and the Patient's Allergies: A Handbook of…
“‘A’ students teach ‘B’ students to work for ‘C’ students”
A popular saying has it that "A" students become teachers and that "B" students work for "C" students. The saying appears to have been cited in print since at least…
“If you’re sick above the shoulders, run; below the shoulders, don’t run” (running adage)
A running adage says that it's OK to run if someone is sick above the shoulders (such as a head cold or a runny nose), but that one should not run if the problem is below the shoulders (such…
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans” (“Man plans, God laughs”)
"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans" is a saying that's from the Yiddish proverb Der mentsh trakht und Gott lakht ("Man plans and God laughs"). Although the…
“If it’s stupid but works, it isn’t stupid”
"If it's stupid but (it) works, it isn't stupid" is one of "Murphy's Law of Combat" that was printed by David Evans in the Chicago (IL) Tribune in 1989; Evans…
“Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder” (military saying)
"Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder" -- that is, it's probably of the cheapest quality -- was part of a jocular "Murphy's Laws of Combat"…
“Take a song to church” (music saying)
A musical artist can "take a song to church," meaning to give a performance like one in a church. Adding a gospel choir is one way to "take a song to church." A singer who belts…
“A closed mouth doesn’t get fed”
"A closed mouth doesn't get fed" means that unless one open's one's mouth and communicates, one doesn't get "fed" information or answers. Similar sayings…