“The lottery is a wonderful thing; it lays the taxation only on the willing”
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) wrote in "Thoughts on Lotteries," February 1826: "Money is wanting for a useful undertaking, as a school, &c., for which a direct tax would be…
The Last Word (cocktail)
"The Last Word" is a classic cocktail, said by Ted Saucier's Bottoms Up (1951) to have originated in the 1920s by bartender Frank Fogarty, at the Detroit Athletic Club. The cocktail…
Blamestream Media
"Blamestream media" is a nickname that some have applied to the “mainstream media” (MSM). The term "lamestream media" (cited in print since at least 1999) indicates a lame…
“Prosperity is something created by businessmen for politicians to take credit for”
"Prosperity, apparently, is something that businessmen create so politicians may take credit for it" was written in the Detroit (MI) News in November 1928 (and was widely reprinted in…
TRAP Law or TRAP Bill (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers)
A "TRAP law" or "TRAP bill" (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) is a piece of legislation to limit the activities of abortion clinics. The term "TRAP" has been…
“Texas even claims George Washington was a Texan” (joke)
Parson Weems (1759-1825) wrote in The Life of Washington (1800) the tale that a young George Washington told his father, "I cannot tell a lie, I did it (chopped down a cherry tree) with my…
“If it tastes good, spit it out” (diet advice)
"If it tastes good, spit it out" is old dietary advice, when so-called "health food" and "low-calorie food" frequently had little taste. The saying is of unknown…
“The trouble with staying home from work is that you have to drink coffee on your own time”
"The trouble with staying home from work is that you have to drink coffee on your own time" was credited in January 1962 to Harold Coffin (1905-1981). Coffin was a humorist who wrote…
“Some people want to check government spending and some people want to spend government checks”
"Some people want to check government spending and some people want to spend government checks" was a favorite line of Ronald Reagan (1911-2004). According to Reagan, the Republicans want…
“As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in schools”
The issue of prayer in public schools has long been debated in the United States, and the U.S. Supreme Court case of Engel v. Vitale ruled shool prayer to be unconstitutional. Several school prayer…
“Money may not buy friends, but it will help you stay in contact with your children”
"Money may not buy friends, but it will help you stay in contact with your children" has been cited in print since at least 1965. The saying was a favorite of Ronald Reagan (1911-2004).…
“Politics has got so expensive that it takes lots of money even to get beat with”
"Politics has got so expensive that it takes lots of money even to get beat with nowadays," joked humorist Will Rogers (1879-1835) in a newspaper column on June 29, 1931. The joke has has…
“Most people would be glad to tend their own business if the government would give it back”
ost people would be glad to tend/mind their own business if the government would give it back" has been cited in print since at least 1971 and is of unknown authorship. The anti-government,…
“Every time the government shifts left, the decimal point in the national debt moves to the right”
"An accountant complains that every time the government shifts to the left, the decimal points in the national debt move to the right," is cited in print since at least 1950. The saying…
“Ask an atheist who’s just had a great meal if he believes there’s a cook”
"The best reply to an atheist is to give him a good dinner and ask him if he believes there is a cook," wrote attorney and author Louis Nizer (1902-1994) on August 17, 1945, in a…
“The problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you’re finished”
"The problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you're finished" has been credited to Ben Franklin (1706-1790) and Groucho Marx (1890-1977), but there's no evidence…
International Misery Fund (International Monetary Fund or IMF nickname)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was founded in 1944-1945 and seeks to foster international development and sound monetary currencies. Some critics of the IMF maintain that its development…
International Mother Fuckers (International Monetary Fund or IMF nickname)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was founded in 1944-1945 and seeks to foster international development and sound monetary currencies. Some critics of the IMF maintain that its development…
Mediscare (Medicare + scare)
"Mediscare" or "Medi-scare" (Medicare + scare) is to frighten current or future Medicare recipients about cuts to Medicare and potential loss of medical coverage. The term…
It’s Mostly Fiscal or It’s Mainly Fiscal (International Monetary Fund or IMF nickname)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was founded in 1944-1945 and seeks to foster international development and sound monetary currencies. Some critics of the IMF claim that the it focuses too…