“Sitting on a gold mine” (possessing something of great value)
To be "sitting in a gold mine" is to be in possession of something of great value, often without knowledge or understanding of that value. The American idiom usually does not require…
Earned Media (Free Media)
"Paid media" is when someone takes out advertising and pays for it. Political campaigns often try for "free media" as well, such as exposure on television talk shows and news…
Democrazy (democracy + crazy)
"Democrazy" (democracy + crazy) is a term to describe a democracy gone crazy, perhaps by corrupt politics and elections. "Democrazy" has been cited in print since at least 1853…
Battleground State
A "battleground state" is one of the fifty states of the United States that could support either one of the two political parties, Republican or Democrat. Political candidates for…
Cemetery Vote
The "cemetery vote" in politics means dead voters still on the election voting rolls and who show up to vote -- through voter fraud, of course. The term "cemetery vote" has been…
Swing State
A "swing state" is one of the fifty states of the United States that could support (or "swing" to) either one of the two political parties, Republican or Democrat. Political…
“Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death and sweet as love”
"Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death and sweet as love" is usually said to be a Turkish proverb, but no Turkish source has been cited. "Coffee, to be good, must be black…
Wingery (Buffalo wings + eatery)
A "wingery" (Buffalo chicken wings + eatery) is a restaurant that specializes in serving Buffalo chicken wings. "Wingery" can also mean the skill of someone who cooks Buffalo…
“Miss one day of practice, I notice; miss two, the critics notice; miss three, the audience notices”
A famous quote is popular with anyone who practices, from pianists to ballet dancers to golfers. "If I miss one day's practice, I notice it. If I miss two days' practice, the critics…
“The best exercise is the one you will do” (exercise adage)
People often ask, "What's the best exercise -- jogging or lifting weights?" "The best exercise is the one you will do" is the answer given by many fitness professionals. If…
“Never stand when you can walk, never walk when you can run” (exercise adage)
"Never stand when you can walk, never walk when you can run" is advice given to people to discourage them from being sedentary. Charles E. Page, M.D., wrote in Health Culture in 1900:…
“Lips that touch wine shall never touch mine”
"Lips that touch liquor/wine shall never touch mine" was a popular temperance saying in the late 1800s and early 1900s. "The lips that touch liquor shall never touch mine" has…
“Fight a boxer and box a fighter” (boxing adage)
"Fight a boxer and box a fighter" (or "box a fighter and fight a boxer") is a boxing adage that means a boxing match should be a contrast of styles. The French boxer Georges…
“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war”
Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) said in 1939, "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war." The saying was also used by U.S. General Hugh Aloysius Drum…
“The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle”
"The more you sweat in practice/training, the less you bleed in battle" is a popular sports and fitness adage, often printed on T-shirts. "The more you sweat in peace, the less you…
“You can get a man with face powder, but it takes baking powder to keep him”
"You can get a man with face powder, but it takes baking powder to keep him" means that beauty ("face powder") attracts a man to a woman, but good cooking ("baking…
“This is a self-cleaning kitchen—clean up after yourself”
"This is a self-cleaning kitchen -- clean up after yourself" is a popular sign in many kitchens, printed on many refrigerator magnets. The saying has been cited in print since at least…
“Like taking candy from a baby” (something easy)
"Like taking/stealing candy from a baby" means that something is easily done; a baby can't fight back. Babies don't have teeth to eat candy, of course, but the expression…
“Don’t take candy from strangers”
"Don't take candy from strangers" is a popular admonition that parents give to children. In July 1874, Charley Ross (age four) was lured from his Philadelphia home by strangers…
Ballers’ Paradise (Barclays Center nickname)
The New Jersey Nets planned to move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season, when the team would become the Brooklyn Nets. Nets point guard Deron Williams was shown the under…