“Hasta la pizza” (hasta la vista + pizza)
"Hasta la vista" is Spanish for "see you later." "Hasta la vista, baby" became a famous catchphrase of the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), starring Arnold…
“The average person thinks he isn’t”
"The average man thinks he isn't" is from the New York City humor magazine The Judge in 1927. "The average person thinks he isn't" has been credited to Father Larry…
Ganjapreneur (ganja + entrepreneur)
A "ganjapreneur" (ganja + entrepreneur) is a capitalist who sells ganja (marijuana) legally to medical marijuana patients. "Colorado's Marijuana Economy: An Explosion of…
“In the first place God made idiots; this was for practice, then he made politicians”
The writer Mark Twain (1835-1910) wrote in 1897: "In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then He made School Boards. — Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar."…
Mediacrat (media + -crat)
A "mediacrat" is a member of the media who decides the information that the public will consume. "Mediacrat" has been cited in print since at least 1974. The term…
Mediacracy (media + -cracy); Mediaocracy (media + -ocracy)
The term "mediacracy" (media + -cracy), meaning the rule of media, was coined in the book title Mediacracy: American Parties and Politics in the Communications Age (1975) by Kevin…
Loan Shark of Last Resort (International Monetary Fund of IMF nickname)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was founded in 1944-1945 and seeks to foster international development and sound monetary currencies. Some critics of the IMF maintain that its development…
Loan Shark
A "loan shark" is a predatory person who offers financing at exorbitant rates. The term "shark" for such as person has been cited in print since at least 1713. The term…
Resolutionary (resolution + revolutionary)
Many people make the New Year's resolution to join a gym and get in shape. They join a gym, stick it out for a few weeks or months, but then quit. The Urban Dictionary's "Urban Word…
Gym Candy
"Gym candy" is a slang name for steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. The drugs are like "candy" to bodybuilders who frequent gyms. 'Gym candy" has been cited…
Gym Bunny
A "gym bunny" is someone who spends a lot of time at the gym. A "gym bunny" differs from a "gym rat" in that the gym rat is a dedicated individual to the sport of…
Gym Rat
A "gym rat" is a person who spends a large amount of time at a gym. 'Gym rat" has been cited in print since at least 1963. The early citations of "gym rat" all…
“When you tighten your belt, it’s a recession; when you have no belt, it’s a depression”
What's the difference between a recession, a depression and a panic? This was explained in 1934 and in several newspapers in 1939: "When you tighten you belt, its a recession. When you…
“Proofread carefully to see if you any words out”
"Proofread carefully to see if you any words out" (minus the word "left") is a jocular editing one-liner that has been printed in many newspapers and books. "Check to see…
“One finds limits by pushing them”
"One finds limits by pushing them" is a popular quotation that is usually credited to American political scientist and economist Herbert Simon (1916-2001). However, the quotation has not…
International Mafia Federation (International Monetary Fund or IMF nickname)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was founded in 1944-1945 and seeks to foster international development and sound monetary currencies. Some critics of the IMF maintain that its development…
“Actor: What’s my motivation? / Director: Your salary”
A classic acting joke, told both on Broadway and in Hollywood, has an actor reading a line and asking the director, "What's my motivation?" The director snaps back with a terse…
“Institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution”
"Institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution" was said by technology writer Clay Shirky at SXSW (South by Southwest, a conference in Austin, TX) in March…
“Bite off more than one can chew” (undertake too much)
"Don't bite off more than you can chew" means that one shouldn't attempt to do more than one is capable of doing. "Don't bite off more than you can chew when you…
“As happy as a clam”
"As happy as a clam" is an American phrase that puzzles many, who ask if and why clams are happy. "He was as happy as a clam" was cited in print in 1833. "I should be happy…