Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
The National Football League conducts a combine to test college athletes in February, in advance of the April NFL draft of players. Athletes go through various speed and agility tests, but they…
"Climatology" is the study of climates; a climatology scientist is called a "climatologist." People who believe that climate scientists have been driven by a political agenda…
The Wall Street Journal has been a financial newspaper since its founding in 1889. Many newspapers that are called "journal" are unflatteringly nicknamed "urinal," and The Wall…
Alitalia is the national airline of Italy and is named from the words ali (wings), and Italia (Italy). Alitalia has been nicknamed with the backronym (back acronym) "Always Late In Takeoff,…
"Nobody cares how bad your English is if your Scotch is good" is a jocular drinking saying that has been included in several collections of humorous quotations, but it's usually not…
Fiat was founded in 1899 in Turin, Italy. "Fiat" is an acronym for "Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino." However, Fiat vehicles have been nicknamed with the backronym (back…
The Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford vehicles have been nicknamed with the backronym (back acronym) "Fix Or Repair Daily" since at least 1977. Other Ford…
The Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford vehicles have been nicknamed with the backronym (back acronym) "Found On Road Dead" since at least 1980. Other Ford…
"Friendship is the wine of life" (or "friends are the wine of life") is a saying that has been printed on various gift items. Shakespeare's Macbeth (1606) contained the…
Paul Arden (1940-2008), a former creative director for the advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi, popularized a phrase with the title of his book, It's Not How Good You Are, It's How…
"Think before you speak" is an old proverb that has been cited in print since at least the 17th century. "Think before you tweet" is a social media proverb that has been cited…
"If you make 10,000 regulations you destroy all respect for the law" is a newly popular quotation that is credited to Winston Churchill (1874-1965). Churchill said the quotation before…
"There's more than one way to skin a cat" has been cited in print since at least 1836. The expression means that there's more than one way of doing things. "There is more…
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives used to be called the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, but is still commonly known as the ATF. Not everyone thinks that alcohol,…
Chick-fil-A is a fast food chain restaurant that specializes in chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets and chicken strips. The founders of the company have Christian beliefs and the restaurants are…
The Bayway Refinery on New York harbor in Bayway, New Jersey, was built by Standard Oil in 1907-08 and is currently owned by Phillips 66. The refinery processes 238,000 barrels of gas per day and…
Sam (strongside linebacker), Mike (middle linebacker) and Will (weakside linebacker) are football position nicknames in the 4-3 defense. Tom Landry (1924-2000), the New York Giants defensive…
The Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings on December 14, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut, left 27 people dead and was a major national news story for weeks, prompting many people to push for gun…
"Brexit” (Great Britain/British + exit) is a word created to define a possible British exit from the eurozone. "Brexit" has been cited in print since at least May 2012. A similar…
The financial term "Great Rebalancing" was cited by Newsweek on June 26. 2006: "I think we'll look back and 2006 will seem possibly like the middle phase of what you might call…