“Fancy Restaurant: One that serves cold soup on purpose”
Cold soups such as gazpacho and vichyssoise are often served at expensive restaurants. "Fancy Restaurant: One that serves cold soup on purpose" is a jocular one-liner that has been…
“A vote for freedom is never wasted”
"The Vote for Freedom Is Never Wasted" was the presidential slogan of Gary Johnson, the 2012 Libertarian Party candidate. The slogan attempted to counter the belief of many that a vote…
Slave Codes (1850s)
A new explanation for the "Big Apple," first proposed in the 2000s, claims that the nickname arose from pre-Civil War slave codes used in the underground railroad (a network of secret…
“‘Buffet’ is a French word that means ‘get up and get it yourself’”
"'Buffet' is a French word that means 'get up and get it yourself'" is a humorous one-line saying that has been credited to comedian Greg Ray (also known as "Dr.…
“A magazine is a bunch of printed pages that tell you what’s coming in the next issue”
Mad magazine (a humor magazine) made fun of magazines when it published the following joke in 1960: "Magazine . . . bunch of printed pages that tell you what's coming next issue."…
“Cheese is the adult form of milk”
"Cheese is the adult form of milk, no longer liquid but solid or semi-solid" was written by André Simon in his book Cheeses of the World (1956). The line is more frquently credited,…
“Most of the best-sellers are cookbooks and diet books — how not to eat it after you’ve cooked it”
Andy Rooney (1919-2011) was a humorist who had a syndicated newspaper column and who made video essays for the popular 60 Minutes television program. Rooney wrote in a May 1981 newspaper column:…
“Sports is the toy department of life”
"Sports is the toy department of (human) life" was first said by New York City sportswriter Jimmy Cannon (1909-1973). It's not known when he first said it, however. The saying means…
“When a habit begins to cost money, it is called a hobby”
"When a habit begins to cost money, it is called a hobby" is a jocular one-line saying that appears to have been coined in the "Little Liz" newspaper comic strip in January…
“Diet is a four-letter word”
A "four-letter word" usually means a profanity. "Diet" is a four-letter word (that is, something profane and not to be discussed) for certain people who like to keep their food…
“Before borrowing money from a friend, decide which you need more”
"Before borrowing money from a friend, decide which you need more" is a saying that has been cited in print since at least 1961. Addison H. Hallock has been most frequently credited for…
“You are who you pretend to be (in politics)”
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1922-2007) wrote in the introduction to his novel Mother Night (1961): "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." "You are…
“A consultant is someone who saves his client almost enough to pay his fee”
"A consultant is someone who saves his client almost enough to pay his fee" is a jocular saying that has been attributed to Arnold H. Glasgow, an American psychiatrist, since at least…
“What do you get when you ask a politician for the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?”
"Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god?" is a sworn oath. Politicians are often said to have a problem…
“Government does not solve problems—it subsidizes them”
"Government/Washington does not solve problems -- it subsidizes them" is a line that Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) used many times as governor of California and while campaigning for…
“A bargain is something you don’t need at a price you can’t resist”
"A bargain is usually something you can't use at a price you can't resist" (or, in a later form, "A bargain is something you don't need at a price you can't…
“Efficiency is a highly developed form of laziness”
"Efficiency is a highly developed form of laziness" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, hats and buttons. The lazy person wants to be efficient so he…
“Teaching is the greatest act of optimism”
"Teaching is the greatest act of optimism" has been credited to Colleen Wilcox, a Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools for 14 years. It's not known when Wilcox said the…
Cafeteria Germ (clostridium perfringens nickname)
Clostridium perfringens has been nicknamed the "cafeteria germ" since at least 1983. The germ grows when large quantities of food are prepared long before being consumed and are left out…
“Life is like a box of chocolates, the best ones are half-eaten”
The movie Forrest Gump (1994) contained the famous line: "My momma always said, 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.'" There have been…