Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"Seventy-eight percent of the earth is covered with water; the other 22 percent is covered with mortgages" is a joke illustrating that most of the earth is actually under water -- and the…
The San Diego (CA) Union originated in September 1930 what would become a popular business proverb: "Confusion. -- Retail jewelers assert that every man should carry two watches. But a man…
American author and journalist Tom Wolfe wrote about the Jonestown massacre (of the religious followers of Jim Jones) on November 18, 1978 in Esquire magazine in 1979: "Among other things,…
"Democracy is a process by which the people are free to choose the man who will get the blame" is a one-line saying that has been cited in print since at least 1968, when it was included…
"Money talks” (meaning that money has influence) is an old financial saying, cited in print in various forms to before 1700. "It goes without saying" means that something is…
"If you want to know what God thinks of money, look at some of the people he gives it to" is a popular saying that has been credited to many people, most frequently -- and incorrectly --…
New York City has many streets named after numbers and letters. Streets in the suburbs are often named after trees, such as oak, maple and pine. Syndicated newspaper columnist Bill Vaughan…
The Texas Relays are an annual track event (since 1925) hosted by the University of Texas at Austin. The Relays bring together both high school and college students and there are many parties held…
Connecticut's Fourth District (Fairfield County) is the home to many hedge funds in cities such as Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport and Bridgeport. The Congressional district has been…
One57 is a 75-story (1,004 feet) Manhattan residential building at 167 West 57th Street. Apartments were pre-purchased for large sums of money; many of the purchasers were billionaires. While still…
"A half-truth is a whole lie" is a popular proverb that's been directed at newspapers and politicians since at least the 1880s and 1890s. "This half truth is tantamount to a…
"A tree never hits an automobile...except in self-defense" is a humorous one-line saying that has been printed on several posters. The saying was probably coined by Arnold H. Glasow…
Conservative writer Ben Domenech coined the term "undertow election" in an October 30, 2012 article for Real Clear Politics titled "Are We Looking at an Undertow Election?" A…
Zsa Zsa Gabor (1917-2016) married nine times. She often told a joke about her marriages and her special housekeeping ability: "I'm a wonderful housekeeper. Every time I'm divorced, I…
"Men are like coffee -- the best ones are rich, warm, and can keep you up all night long" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on many posters. The humorous saying has…
Hurricane Sandy hit New York City in the evening of October 29, 2012. The Con Ed power company experienced many problems and power went out over lower Manhattan for several days. Manhattan below…
Hurricane Sandy hit New York City in the evening of October 29, 2012. The Con Ed power company experienced many problems and power went out over lower Manhattan for several days. Manhattan below…
"A statesman is any politician it's considered safe to name a school after" was printed in the "Senator Soaper" syndicated newspaper column in October 1966. “Senator…
"Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands -- and then eat just one of the pieces" was written by American author Judith Viorst in Redbook…
The term "Great Rotation" was coined in 2010 by Michael Hartnett, the Chief Global Equity Strategist of Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research. Bank of America Merrill Lynch…