Rags to Riches
"Rags to riches" is an expression to describe someone who was poor (wearing "rags") and who has become rich. "Rags to riches" has been cited in print in 1875 amd 1878,…
Ostrich Economics
People who refuse to see what is happening are compared to the ostrich, an animal that -- according to the myth -- buries its head in the sand. "Ostrich economics" is a policy promoted by…
Amero (proposed North American currency)
The "amero" is the name of a proposed currency for the countries of North America (Canada, United States, Mexico), similar to the euro in Europe. The Canadian dollar, the United States…
“The difference between a farmer and a pigeon is the pigeon can make a deposit on a John Deere”
A standard joke is told whenever there's a financial downturn. "What's the difference between a banker and a pigeon? The pigeon can still make a deposit on a Mercedes!" The joke…
“What’s the difference between a banker and a pigeon?” (joke)
A standard joke is told whenever there's a financial downturn. "What's the difference between a banker and a pigeon? The pigeon can still make a deposit on a Mercedes!" The joke…
Corporat or CorpoRat (corporate/corporation + rat)
"Corporat" or "corpoRat" (corporate/corporation + rat) is a derogatory term implying that corporations (and the people who work for corporations) are rats. "CorpoRat"…
Typing Pool or Stenography Pool (press corps nickname)
A press corps (such as the White House press corps) often simply repeats what a government administration declares, without additional reporting. Members of a lazy press corps have been derided as…
“A journalist is an unemployed reporter”
What is the difference between a journalist and a reporter? The term "journalist" is often said to be a fancier (or more pretentious) version of the term "reporter." "A…
Press Corpse (press corps nickname)
A press corps is a group of reporters; there is a White House press corps and there are others at the state and municipal levels. The word "corps" is pronounced like the word…
Repeater (a reporter who repeats rather than reports)
A "repeater" is a "reporter" who fails to report, but simply repeats what is told (by a government administration, for example). Reporters who are "repeaters" have…
Assassiversary (assassination + anniversary)
An "assassiversary" (assassination + anniversary) is the anniversary of an assassination. For example, November 22nd is the "assassiversary" of the 1963 assassination of John F.…
“I used to have mad cow disease, but I’m alright noooooo!” (joke)
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or "Mad Cow Disease" has affected cattle in the United Kingdom since 1989 and in North America since 1993. "I used to have mad cow disease, but…
Standard American Diet (SAD)
Food authors have discussed the term "standard American diet" in print since at least the 1930s. The name "Standard American Diet" and its acronym "S.A.D." have been…
Hispandering (Hispanic + pandering)
"Hispandering" (Hispanic + pandering) occurs when a someone (such as a politician) panders to a Spanish-speaking constituency. The politician might produce election literature half in…
“Old bankers never die—they just lose interest”
"Old soldiers never die -- they just fade away” is an old saying that was popularized by General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) in his farewell address to Congress on April 19, 1951. Many…
“Tragedy is when I cut my finger; comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die”
"Tragedy is when I cut my finger; comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die" is a popular line from Brooklyn-born comedian/actor/director/screenwriter Mel Brooks. Tragedy is even…
“Q: How do journalists count? A: One, two, trend.” (joke)
A popular journalism joke is, "Q: How do journalists count? A: One, two, trend." The joke implies that all it takes is three examples for a journalist to declare a "trend" and…
“What do you get when you play a country song backwards?”
A joke about country music (cited in print since at least 1991) illustrates the sadness of much of the lyrics. "What do you get when you play a country song backwards? You get your job back,…
“The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury” (Washington?)
"The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury" has been a popular quotation on many websites since the financial crisis of 2008. The quotation is usually attributed to…
Hide-and-Speak (electronic constituent communications)
"Hide-and-speak" (a pun on "hide-and-seek") is when a government official speaks to his or her constituents without a live and personal confrontation, such as what happens at a…