“If there’s anything a public servant hates to do it’s something for the public”
"If there's anything a public servant hates to do it's something for the public" is a popular cynical remark about the self-interest of "public servants." "If…
“Old people shouldn’t eat health foods; they need all the preservatives they can get”
Comedy writer Robert Orben wrote in 1978: "My rather elderly neighbor is complaining: 'I'm at that age when I'll have nothing to do with natural foods. I need all the…
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle”
"All things come to him who waits" was a popular proverb in the 19th century and is now popularly written as "good things come to those who wait." "All things come to him…
“Great ideas originate in the muscles”
"Great ideas originate in the muscles" means that the great ideas come from hard work. The quotation has been cited in print since at least 1991, when it was attributed to American…
“Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits”
"All things come to him who waits" was a popular proverb in the 19th century and is now popularly written as "good things come to those who wait." "Everything comes to him…
“There is no substitute for hard work”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Chronicling America26 October 1901, The Evening Star (Washington, DC), pg. 18, col. 3:From the Baltimore Sun.There is no substitute for hard work in winning success. There…
Moxie (carbonated beverage)
Moxie is a trademarked beverage that was originally bottled in 1884 and sold as "nerve food." Moxie advertising in 1940 contained the line "He's got Moxie!" -- defined in…
“Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.”
American cartoonist and writer Ted Key (1912-2008) did a series of posters and one illustrated saying achieved popularity: "Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it.Autograph your…
“Pessimism never won any battle”
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) said in July 1955: "We cannot look at this whole situation with out realizing first that pessimism never won any battle, whether it was in peace…
RadioSlack or Radio Slack (RadioShack or Radio Shack nickname)
RadioShack consumer electronics retail store began in 1921 as "Radio Shack" and adopted "RadioShack" in 1995. The RadioShack nickname of "Radio Slack" has been cited…
RadioShaft or Radio Shaft (RadioShack or Radio Shack nickname)
RadioShack consumer electronics retail stores began in 1921 as "Radio Shack" and adopted "RadioShack" in 1995. The RadioShack nickname of "Radio Shaft" has been cited…
Bubba Dump (Bubba Gump Shrimp Company nickname)
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company takes its name and inspiration from the movie Forrest Gump (1994); the characters Forrest Gump and Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue went into the shrimping business…
Toxic Smell (Taco Bell nickname)
Taco Bell fast food restaurants have been nicknamed the derogatory term "Toxic Smell" since at least 1994. Other Taco Bell nicknames include "Toxic Hell" (cited in print since…
“An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows”
President Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (1890-1969) was campaigning for re-election in 1954 against Adlai Stevenson II (1900-1965), his Democratic challenger and a perceived intellectual…
“Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin”
President Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower addressed the nation on February 20, 1957, regarding the Suez Crisis. "We do, however, believe that upon the suppression of the present act of…
“Party on”
"Party on, dudes!" was a tagline to the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon. "Party on!" also achieved popularity in…
Power of the Purse
The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse -- that is, Congress must authorize how money is raised and spent. The term "power of the purse" dates to at least the 1600s,…
“Party down”
"Party down" means to celebrate with great enthusiasm. "Party Down" (1974) by Willie "Little Beaver" Hale and "Party Down" (1975) by Willie Hutch are soul…
Putting Green (a bed of parsley)
A "putting green" is a bed of parsley, tightly packed like a golf putting green. The turn-in boxes at barbecue competitions feature "putting greens," some with shredded lettuce…
Texas Penny ($100 bill)
A "Texas penny" is a $100 bill. The slang originated with the "Marge's Son Poisoning" episode of the animated The Simpsons television show on November 13, 2005. A rich…