Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Henry Kissinger was the U.S. National Security Advisor (January 20, 1969 – November 3, 1975) and Secretary of State (September 22, 1973 – January 20, 1977). The October 28, 1973 New York (NY)…
"Hospitals don't have patients; doctors have patients and hospitals have doctors" (or "Hospitals don't have patients, physicians/doctors do") was said by Dr. Paul…
"How about that!" was the catchphrase of Mel Allen (1913-1996), the sports announcer who was called the "Voice of the Yankees." Allen's 1996 New York (NY) Times obituary…
"Going...going...gone!" was the signature home run call of New York Yankees announcer Mel Allen (1913-1996). "Going, going, gone!" has been cited in print since at least 1780…
"The bases are F.O.B. (full of Brooklyns)" was a catchphrase of Brooklyn Dodger announcer Red Barber (1908-1992), meaning that there were Dodgers standing on first base, second base and…
"Kick save -- and a beauty!" was a catchphrase of longtime New York Rangers hockey announcer Marv Albert, meaning that the goalie just made a great save with his foot. "Stick save --…
The "glass ceiling" is an invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising higher up the corporate ladder; thosethat do are said to "shatter the glass ceiling."…
When Nancy Pelosi would become the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives following new Democratic control of the House after the November 2006 elections, she said: "When my…
Marty Glickman (1917-2001) was the first radio announcer for basketball's New York Knickerbockers in 1946. Glickman heard the Knicks players say "Swish!" as a basketball went…
"New castrati" is a term used mostly by conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh has used the term since at least February 2006. Rush Limbaugh defined the "new…
British journalist James Cameron (1911-1985) was asked if he could come to New York City for an interview. He wrote in 1966: "Naturally I jumped at it: I love short trips to New York; to me it…
"He stops. pops, and it drops" is a basketball announcer's call for a player taking and making a jump shot. The Albert brothers (Marv Albert, Al Albert and Steve Albert) all…
In the early days of television, both the transmission and the television sets performed poorly. A broadcast frequently announced "Please do not adjust your receiver/set" to explain a…
"As the morning goes, so goes the station" was the slogan of WNBC (New York, NY) station manager Perry Bascom in 1972. Bascom -- a former president of Radio Advertising Representatives --…
New York Knicks basketball player Shawne Williams was known for his three-point accuracy during the 2010-11 NBA season. On the Knicks blog Posting and Toasting on December 5, 2010, Thelonious Dunk…
"French Silk Chocolate Pie" by Mrs. Kendall (Betty) Cooper of Silver Spring, MD, won the $1,000 "best in class - pie" award at the 1951 Pillsbury Bake-Off, held at New…
A news anchorman (or anchorwoman) leads the program, introducing news reporters and commentators. The term "anchor man" has a long use in sports. In tug-of-war, the anchorman is the last…
"Holy guacamole!" (cited in print since at least 1968) and "Holy cannoli!" (cited in print since at least 1982) are two popular food exclamations. "Holy guacamole!"…
"Innovate or die" is a popular slogan for business innovation. The computer industry frequently used the saying since at least 1996, and it was used by Microsoft Corp. and its founder,…
One of the most popular of customer service quotations is this: "To my customer: I may not have the answer, but I'll find it. I may not have the time, but I'll make it. I may not be…