Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
One joke has a hot air balloonist blown off course and landing in a field, where he meets someone. The balloonist asks "Where am I?" and the man replies, "You've landed in a…
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is the successor to World War II’s Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The George Bush Center for Intelligence headquarters compound of the CIA is located in…
"It's not the X's and O's, it's the Jimmys and Joes" means that it's not necessarily the plays ("X's and O's") that a coach runs that win…
"It costs more to be poor" is a saying that dates to at least 1965. The poor often can't afford to shop outside their neighborhood for better quality or better prices, to buy…
"Let's have a drink, let's have some fun, because at last the job is done" is a saying that's on the wall of T.G.I. Friday's restaurants. The toast has been cited in…
"Hit the spot" possibly originated in the military, with a shot aimed to hit a spot (or target). By the 1840s, to "hit the spot" meant something desirable, satisfying a need.…
"The (great) unwashed" means the masses, the multitudes, the hoi polloi, the common people, and other similar terms. In 1800, a Glasgow professor referred to mechanics as "unwashed…
"I question the timing" means that someone suspects political motivation behind an action. For example, a politician in New York City used to have high publicity porn busts right before…
The term "random act of kindness" means to selflessly perform an act benefiting another person, without request and without expectation of a return of the kindness. "Random act of…
"Occupy Wall Street" protests began in September 2011 in New York City, but the protests quickly spread to other cities. Some (mostly conservative) critics of "Occupy Wall…
The Fed (Federal Reserve) is closely watched by many in the financial community. The names "Fedology" and "Fedologist" have applied to Fed watchers since at least 1971, but…
" I do my best thinking when I'm drinking" is a T-shirt slogan. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2006. Zazzle.comI Do My Best Thinking When I'm Drinking Shirt…
"In dog beers, I've only had one" is a popular T-shirt slogan. The slogan implies that a six-pack of beers equals only one in "dog beers." The saying has been cited in…
"I'm just here for the beer" is a popular T-shirt slogan. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1994. Zazzle.comI'm Just Here For The Beer! Shirt 30 October 1994,…
Retailers have long known that men and women have different habits, reflected in the adage "women shop, men buy." Men appear to know what they want and buy that one thing, but women like…
"Yard/Lawn signs don't vote" is a popular political adage. However, many politicians also believe that a large show of support, in the form of lawn signs, is usually beneficial.…
The economist John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006) said in 1965 about New York City's budget problems -- a paraphrase is neccesary because the precise quotation has not been found --…
"Profit is not a four-letter word" is a slogan defending capitalism. The saying means that making money is not inherently a bad thing. "Profit is not a four-letter word" dates…
The United States Marine Corps is part of the United States Armed Forces and was founded in 1775. The letters "USMC" have been nicknamed "Uncle Sam's Misguided Children"…
A popular T-shirt saying is "Wine improves with age. I improve with wine.” The saying appears to have been cited in print since 2007. Zazzle.comWine Improves With Age I Improve With Wine…