“Do illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?”
"Do illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?" is a joke that has been credited to comedian John Mendoza since at least 1988. Alphabet soup contains letter-shaped pasta and…
Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"Do illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?" is a joke that has been credited to comedian John Mendoza since at least 1988. Alphabet soup contains letter-shaped pasta and…
"Higher education helps your earning capacity. Ask any college professor" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many websites. The saying has been cited in print since at least…
A present or former employee of the financial firm of Goldman Sachs is called a "Goldmanite." The name 'Goldmanite" has been cited in print since at least 1992.…
People often pray before a meal (such as a grace prayer) to give thanks for the food on the table. The comedian Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) joked: "My wife is the worst cook in the world.…
Many fine dining restaurants offer after-dinner mints, suggesting a pun on the word "mint": "Nowadays, an after-dinner mint is what you need to pay the restaurant check"…
A "Mercedes Marxist" is someone who wants everyone to share the wealth (such as in Marxism) -- everyone, that is, except himself or herself (who gets to ride a Mercedes or another…
Matthew Henry (1662-1714), an English commentator on the Bible, wrote in An Exposition of All the Books of the Old and New Testaments (1708-1710): "Good men are more solicitous and desirous to…
"Boisterous sea of liberty" and "tempestuous sea of liberty" both are from letters by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). In an April 24, 1796 letter to Philip Mazzei (1730-1816),…
"Love thy neighbor as thyself" is in the Bible in Leviticus 19:18 and in several passages of the New Testament. "Love thy neighbor as thyself, but choose your neighborhood" is a…
"If God had intended us to fly, He would have given us wings" is a popular anonymous proverb. The jet age of the 1960s added a different ending: "If God wanted us to fly, he would…
"Know thyself" is an ancient Greek proverb that was inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. "Know thyself; if you need help, call the CIA/FBI" is a humorous one-line saying…
Austin (TX) premiered in November 2012 the first track in the United States built specifically for Formula One racing. The name "Circuit of the Americas" was introduced to the public in…
A "boat check" is a sick leave payout given to an employee (usually in government) at retirement. The sick leave days are usually paid at the highest hourly rate, not at the rates the…
"My child is an honor(s) student at ____ school" is a bumper sticker that many schools have handed out. "My Child Is An HONOR STUDENT In The Durant Public Schools" (in Druant,…
Many automobile bumper stickers declare that a driver's child has made a school's honor roll. "My kid beat up your honor student" is a jocular bumper sticker reply. "My kid…
Many automobile bumper stickers declare that a driver's child has made a school's honor roll. "My kid got your honor(s) student pregnant" is a jocular bumper sticker reply.…
Many automobile bumper stickers declare that a driver's child has made a school's honor roll. "Your child may be an honor(s) student, but you're still an idiot" is a…
"The world is full of apathy, but I don't care" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on bumper stickers. "The world's full of apathy, but I don't…
"I hate coffee -- it keeps me awake at work" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, caps and mugs. The saying -- a twist on "I hate coffee --…
"My liberty is more important than your stupid idea" has been a bumper sticker saying since at least 2006. The saying means that government often has "ideas" with its…