“You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard”
"You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard" is a jocular saying that has been included in "Murphy's Laws" collections and a frequently…
“You can’t get to the top by sitting on your bottom”
"You can't get to the top by sitting on your bottom" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least 1954. The authorship of the saying is unknown. Google…
“If you can’t dance, don’t blame the dance floor”
"A bad workman blames his tools" is an old proverb that has many variations. "If you can't dance, don't blame (it on) the (dance) floor" is a modern version of the…
“Winning isn’t everything, but losing isn’t anything”
"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" is a popular American sports proverb, cited in print since at least 1948. "Winning isn't everything, but losing…
“If you can’t say something nice, become a reporter”
"If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all" is advice given to the character Thumper in the Disney animated movie Bambi (1942). The proverbial saying is older…
“A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works”
"A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works" was written by Bill Vaughan (1915-1977), a columnist who specialized in aphorisms, in September…
“Whoever said, ‘It’s not whether you win or lose that counts,’ probably lost”
Grantland Rice (1880-1954) wrote, "For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name; He marks -- not that you won or lost -- but how you played the Game." Many sports…
Gaaafe or Gaaaffe (“What about your gaffes?”)
Republican 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney was shouted at by some reporters in July 2012, who asked, "What about your gaffes?" Salon magazine explained: “'What about your…
Line Waiter (Queuer)
A professional "line waiter" receives money for waiting in line on behalf of someone else. A "line waiter" (who waits in line) is the same as a "queuer" (who waits in…
Educashun (eye dialect spelling of “education”)
"Educashun" is a jocular spelling -- using eye dialect -- for the word "education." "Educashun" has been cited in print since at least 1848. The humorist "Josh…
Educamation (jocular spelling of “education”)
"Educamation" is a jocular spelling for the word "education." "Educamation" has been cited in print since at least 1998 and does not appear to have any obvious author.…
Edjamacation (jocular spelling of “education”)
"Edjamacation" is a jocular spelling for the word "education." "Edjamacation" has been cited in print since at least 1934, when it was spoken by the very popular…
TBTF Consortium (Financial Services Roundtable nickname)
The Financial Services Roundtable is a lobbying group for big banks. In September 2012, the Zero Hedge blog wrote that the Financial Services Roundtable is also known as the "TBTF…
“When the solution is simple, God is answering”
"If/When the solution is simple, God is answering/speaking" is a quotation that has been credited to Albert Einstein (1879-1955), a physicist who was known for finding simple solutions to…
TLA (three letter agency)
"TLA" is Washington, DC, federal government lingo for a "three letter agency," such as ATF, CIA, DHS, FBI, NSA, and so on. "TLA (Three Letter Agency)" has been cited…
“Stuff one’s face” (to eat greedily)
"Stuffing one's face" (also "feeding one's face" and "filling one's face") is to eat greedily. "Feed me face" was cited in print in 1887 and…
El Presidente (banana republic dictator)
"El Presidente is Spanish for "the president." The term often describes a dictator of a banana republic. The Woody Allen comedy film Bananas (1971) made references to 'El…
“If we aren’t supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat?”
"If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat?" is a humorous saying that has been put on T-shirts and has been included in many collections of one-line…
“The man who rolls up his sleeves seldom loses his shirt”
"The man who rolls up his sleeves seldom loses his shirt" means that someone who gets to work to tackle a problem ("rolls up his sleeves") seldom loses everything ("loses…
Body Man
A "body man" is a politician's special personal assistant. The body man might fetch coffee or make sure the politician's tie is on straight for a debate. President John F.…