Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
In 1896, it was reported that Baron Rothschild was asked for advice on financial transactions -- one with a very large rate of interest and another with a smaller rate. Rothschild reportedly said:…
A "hedgie" is a hedge fund or someone who works for a hedge fund. The term "hedgie" has been cited in print since at least 1986-87. The Free DictionaryHedgieSlang for a hedge…
Changing "U.S.A." to "U.S.S.A." (for "United Socialist States of America" or "United States of Socialist America") is imitative of "U.S.S.R."…
"If you want an audience, start a fight" is often said to be a Gaelic proverb. "If you want to build/draw a crowd, start/pick a fight" is often credited to the showman Phineas…
"Chickens come home to roost" is an idiomatic expression meaning that bad words or deeds will come back to the speaker or actor. The expression was popularized by Robert Southey, who put…
"To be the best, you have to play (against) the best" (or, "You have to play the best, to be the best") is an old sports maxim. Some sports leagues offer stronger competition…
POSPOTUS or POS POTUS stands for Piece Of Shit President Of The United States. "POS POTUS" has been cited in print since at least February 2000. A June 2010 post (see below) defines…
"If we lie to the Congress, it's a felony and if the Congress lies to us it's just politics" was written by Ken Huber of Tawas City, Michigan, and published in the Iosco County…
The suffix "-bot" (for"robot") is often added after a politician's name to show deluded, robot-like followers. For the 2007-2008 U.S. presidential campaign, followers of…
A "shampaign" (sham + campaign) is a fake campaign where a political candidate is running for office, but doesn't seriously have a chance of winning. There are many reasons to run a…
The term "Great Reset" came into popular use after the 2008 financial crisis and is similar to the economic terms "Great Depression" and "Great Recession." Richard…
Al-Qaeda (Arabic for "The Base") is a Sunni Islamic terrorist group founded in 1988-1989 by Osama bin Laden -- with the help of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) -- to fight the…
A "fortress balance sheet" of a bank or a company is one that shows sufficient capital to withstand a downturn in business conditions (or "attacks on the fortress"). The term…
Silver has been called the "common man's (precious) metal" because it's a fraction of the cost of gold. The nickname "common man's metal" has been cited in print…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksThe Travels of a Sugar Planter: or, Six Months in EuropeBy Henry Watkins Allen New York, NY: J.F. Trow1861Pg. 37:TRAFALGAR HOTEL, LONDON, ENGLAND,August 6,…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: junketNounjunket (plural junkets)1.(obsolete) A basket.2.A type of cream cheese, originally made in a rush basket; later, a food made of sweetened curds or…
Entry in progress --B.P Wikipedia: Protection racketA protection racket is an extortion scheme whereby a criminal group or individual coerces a victim (usually a business) to pay money, supposedly…
Entry in progress -- B.P, Wikipedia: Dark horseDark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort. OriginThe…
ESPN (originally the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) began in 1979, with a base in Bristol, Connecticut. The derogatory nickname "BSPN" (b.s./bullshit + ESPN) has been cited…
A "dear colleague" letter is a letter (or email) addressed "Dear Colleague(s)" or "My Dear Colleague(s)," sent by one member of a legislative body to another member.…