Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Popular motivational posters contain this saying: "Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational…
"Tradition never graduates" (or "tradition doesn't graduate") is a saying used by many successful school sports programs. The students graduate, but the tradition of…
The "Occupocalypse" (Occupy Wall Street + apocalypse) is an infrequently used name for the Occupy Wall Street protests. A caller to the Jeff Ward Show on Newsradio KLBJ (Austin, TX)…
Financial "window dressing" occurs when money managers try to improve their performance at the end of a quarter or year, so that financial statements look better. Some "window…
"Fall classic" is another name for baseball's World Series that takes place in October. The name "fall classic" has been cited in print since at least July 1914. Wikipedia:…
"Despotism (or "hard despotism") is life under a rule of a single entity with absolute power. In a democracy, the majority can install "big government" and create a…
The term "soft tyranny" was popularized by conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin, author of the best-selling book Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto (2009). A "hard…
"Eat foods that spoil (just eat them before they do)" means that ones should eat fresh food, not food that is overly processed for a long shelf life. Fruits and vegetables spoil. The…
New York City is known for its "ticker-tape parades," usually on the "Avenue of Heroes" (Fifth Avenue) or on the "Canyon of Heroes" (Broadway in Lower Manhattan).…
Congressmoron (Congressman + moron) is a term used by those who don't have a high regard for members of Congress. The term "Congressmoron" has been cited in print since at least…
"Zapplesauce" (applesauce fortified with energy producing maltodextrin, a complex carbohydrate) was developed by the U.S. Department of the Army as part of a Meal Ready to Eat (MRE). The…
"Hipstrict" (hipster + district) was coined in a May 10, 2011 article on the website CultureMap (Houston). Houston's new lines for District C include the neighborhoods of…
The White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner began in 1920 and evolved into a press comedy roast of the president. Ana Marie Cox, a founding editor of the political blog Wonkette,…
Politico.com is a website and news service that reports political news. Some critics have claimed that Politico has a conservative/Republican bias. The Politico nickname of "Republico"…
Many liquids have been called "liquid gold" (that is, something very valuable and desired). Maple syrup has been called "liquid gold" since at least 1910 and 1960. Honey has…
"A meal without wine is breakfast" is a saying of unknown origin, cited in print since at least the 1990s. Not everyone agrees with the saying -- there are champagne and mimosa…
"Finally, check whenever you can. It may be mate" is a chess adage that dates to at least 1889, when Hector Rosenfeld (1857-1935), a member of the Manhattan Chess Club and a professional…
"Every man/person is innocent until proven broke" is a joke in the legal profession, suggesting that justice is over for the person who can't afford a good lawyer. The legal joke has…
"Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships" is a popular saying in sports, especially in basketball and football. "Defense wins championships" has been cited in…
The Fox News Channel has had many critics who have nicknamed the channel "Fixed News" and "Fox Noise." The Fox News nickname of "Fixed Noise" (a combination of the two…