“Punch above one’s weight” (boxing metaphor)
In boxing, there are weight classes so that boxers never "punch above their weight." In a street fight, however, a little man must "punch above his weight" to defeat a bigger…
“Finger-lickin’ good”
"Finger-lickin' good" is the popular slogan of KFC restaurants (formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken). "Finger licking" food is so good that one would rather lick…
“The camera doesn’t lie” (“The camera never lies”)
'The camera doesn't lie" (or "the camera never lies") means that photographic evidence shows what something actually looks like. The old saying has been used since the…
“The camera adds ten pounds” (film and television adage)
"The camera adds ten pounds" is an old film and television adage that is still held by many. Camera angles and colors can make one to appear fatter or thinner. "The motion-picture…
“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough” (sports adage)
How old should one be to play professional sports? The saying is "if you're good enough, you're old enough." When Major League Soccer's D.C. United signed 14-year-old…
“Play the ball and don’t let the ball play you” (baseball adage)
"Play the ball and don’t let the ball play you" has been popular baseball fielding advice since at least 1902. If you "let the ball play you" by sitting back and waiting for…
Realville (a town in the real world)
"Realville" isn't any actual city or town, but it's an expression for a place that exists "in the real world" and has real world problems. Politicians and economists…
“Kill for show and pass for dough” (handball/racquetball adage)
"Kill for show and pass for dough" is a saying that has been used in handball since at least 1999 and in racquetball since at least 2000. A "kill shot" contacts the front wall…
Nationalized Public Radio (NPR or National Public Radio nickname)
NPR (formerly National Public Radio) is funded, in part, with taxpayer dollars. Conservative and libertarian groups often insist that government has no role in funding a radio network. The NPR…
“Chocolate, men, coffee—some things are better rich”
"Chocolate, men, coffee -- some things are better rich" is a humorous saying that has been printed on gift items such as coffee mugs and refrigerator magnets. The order of the three…
“Coffee keeps me busy until it’s time to be drunk”
"Coffee keeps me busy until it's time to be drunk" is a humorous saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as coffee mugs and refrigerator magnets. The items have been…
“You don’t have to be crazy to work here, but it helps”
"You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps" is a jocular sign that has been placed in many workplaces. "You don't have to be crazy to work here...but it…
“String tight for control, loose for power” (racket adage)
"Tight for control, loose for power" is an adage for stringing a tennis racket or racquetball racquet, cited in print since at least 1983. The theory is that looser strings result in…
“Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have” (employment adage)
"Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have" is a popular employment adage, given to people looking for a job or hoping for a promotion from a present job. John T. Molloy's…
“You can expect what you inspect” (management adage)
"You can expect what you inspect" has been credited by Wikipedia to the American statistician and author W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993), but there's no evidence that he either coined…
Department of Hopeless Security (Department of Homeland Security or DHS nickname)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was formed in 2002, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The DHS operates the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and…
“You can’t catch a walk” (baseball adage)
"You can't catch/defend/defense a walk" means that a pitcher shouldn't give up a walk (a free pass to first base) and should let the batter hit the ball, where a catch (or…
“Two-out hits will get you to heaven” (baseball adage)
Two-out hits in baseball help extend an inning (and the game, if it's the ninth and final inning). "Two-out hits will get you (in)to heaven" is a baseball adage that emphasizes how…
SWATing (Swatting)
"Swatting" (also "SWATing" or "SWATting") is when someone calls emergency service (such as "911") from an undetectable location to report a nonexistent crime…
“A goal is a dream with a deadline” (management aphorism)
"A goal is a dream with a deadline" means that a goal is a dream fitted to reality, with a deadline for its accomplishment. The saying has been attributed to Napoleon Hill (1883-1970),…