Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country" is a joke featured in many sports and exercise joke lists, often incorrectly attributed to comedian Steven…
"Condense soup, not books" is a slogan that has been used on gift items such as T-shirts and bumper stickers. John T. Dorrance (1873-1930) of the Campbell's Soup Company invented…
"Dijon vu" (dijon mustard + deja vu) is a jocular formation meaning "the same mustard as before." The term "dijon vu" has been infrequently used and is rarely spoken,…
"Democracy is mob rule" was not said by the founding fathers of the United States, although they did make similar critical comments about pure democracy. "Democracy is nothing more…
"It's not hard to meet expenses -- they're everywhere" is a joke on the double meaning of the word "meet" ("to see" expenses and "to satisfy"…
"I'm having an out-of-money experience" (a pun on "out-of-body" experience) is a popular expression on gift items such as T-shirts and bumper stickers. "I'm…
"Indecision is the key to flexibiity" (less often given as "Flexibility is the key to indecision") has been featured on gift items such as T-shirts. The saying humorously…
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary" is a saying that dates to at least 1953. The saying means that work leads to success; success doesn't come without…
"If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm" is an old sports saying attributed to Green Bay Packers football coach Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) in 1968.…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Tar HeelTar Heel (or Tarheel) is a nickname applied to the state and inhabitants of North Carolina as well as the nickname of the University of North Carolina…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: JayhawkerJayhawkers is a term that came to prominence just before the American Civil War in Bleeding Kansas, where it was adopted by militant bands affiliated…
"Kakistocracy" is from the Greek kakistos (worst) and means a government by the worst men. The word "kakistocracy" is not found in ancient Greek and was coined as an opposite…
"If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?" is a silly saying that doesn't fully make sense -- getting out of a mess is different than getting into one. The…
"Ineptocracy" (inept + democracy) has been given a popular definition on many websites and images since at least October 2011: Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-Ra-cy) - a system of government…
"If you don't take care of your customers, someone else will" is a business saying that has been popular since at least the 1980s. The origin of the saying is unknown. Management…
"A good big man is better than a good little man" is a boxing adage, popular mostly in the heavyweight division. All other things being equal, the heavier man with the longer reach will…
"Wraps" became popularized in California in the mid-1990s, with restaurants such as San Francisco's World Wrapps (trademarked July 10, 1994), The Daily Wrap and Wrap Works. A…
"A winner never quits" (or "winners never quit") and "a quitter never wins" (or "quitters never win") are sayings especially popular in sports. "A…
"Retail politics" means when a politician meets the people directly and appeals for their votes, as opposed to a "wholesale politics" campaign using paid media and meeting…
The "Three C's" of creditworthiness have been defined as character (or credit score/reputation), capacity (an income stream, such as a salary) and collateral (assets, such as a house…