“A half-truth is a whole lie”
"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”
"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…
Undertow Election
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…
“I’m a good housekeeper; every time I get a divorce, I keep the house”
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”
"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…
Black Zone (area without electrical power)
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…
Dark Zone (area without electrical power)
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”
"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 breaking a chocolate bar into four pieces with your hands — and then eating just one”
"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…
Great Rotation (from bonds to stocks)
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…
“Food, love, mother and career—the four basic guilt groups”
Cathy Guisewite drew a syndicated newspaper comic strip called Cathy from 1976-2010. Guisewite said in 1983 that the comic strip was all about the four basic "guilt groups" -- food, love,…
“Some people are like blisters — they don’t show up until the work is done”
"Some people are like blisters -- they don't show up until the work is done" has been cited in print since at least January 1959. The saying was printed in many newspapers in the…
“Never play leapfrog with a unicorn”
"Leapfrog" (or "leap frog") is a children's game where one player jumps over another's stooped back. The game has been played on playgrounds for hundreds of years.…
“Saving is a very fine thing, especially when your parents have done it for you”
"Saving is a very fine thing, especially when your parents have done it for you" is a jocular statement that has been credited to Winston Churchill (1874-1965) since at least 1968 and…
“Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat”
"Trick or treat" is a Halloween phrase that began in the 1920s. A popular rhyming extension has been cited in print since at least 1948: "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me…
One World Government (OWG)
"One World Government" (OWG) is a term often used with "New World Order" (NWO). Anti-OWG activists believe that organizations such as the United Nations, International Monetary…
Layaway
A "layaway" (or "lay-away") plan is one where a customer desires an item and puts a deposit on it, and the retailer "lays the item away" for the customer until the…
“Journalism consists in buying white paper at two cents a pound and selling it at ten cents a pound”
"Journalism consists in buying white paper at two cents a pound and selling it at ten cents a pound" is a 19th century statement meaning that good journalism is what people will pay for.…
“Baroque (adj.): when you’re out of Monet”
"Baroque (adj.): when you're out of Monet" is a jocular statement (fake French for "broke -- when you're out of money") that has been printed on many gift items, such…
“A compromise is a deal in which two people get what neither of them wanted”
"A compromise is a deal in which two people get what neither of them wanted" is a jocular statement showing that a compromise makes neither party totally happy. "A compromise is an…