Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Claude Pepper (1900-1989) was Florida's United States senator from 1936-1951; he served in the House of Representatives from 1963-1989. In 1954 (when Pepper was out of office), his wife,…
The New York (NY) Times has been called the "(news)paper of record" since 1924. Some critics claim that the Times distorts facts and should not be relied upon as the true, accurate…
Congresswoman Clare Boothe Luce (1903-1987) gave a forty minute speech before Congress on February 9, 1943. She criticized Vice President Henry Wallace's global post-war plans. "Much of…
"Globull" (global + bull) is usually used in the term "globull warming," a parody term of "global warming." The term "globull warming" implies that…
College football's first 'Pinstripe Bowl" was held at the new Yankee Stadium on December 20, 2010, between Syracuse (from the Big East Conference) and Kansas State (from the Big 12…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikiquote: Boss TweedWilliam Marcy Tweed (3 April 1823 - 12 April 1878), known as Boss Tweed, was an American politician and political boss of Tammany Hall who became an…
New York newspaper columnist Heywood Broun (1888-1939) is known for saying: "A liberal is a man who leaves the room when the fight begins." Broun was a socialist who believed that…
"Black and Bleu Salad" became popular in the 2000s at chain restaurants such as O'Charley's, Beef 'O' Brady's and Quiznos. The salad often contains sliced sirloin…
A joke is often told that U.S. President Harry Truman (1884-1972) wanted to hire a one-armed economist. Why a one-armed economist? Truman's economists kept telling him: "On the one hand…
U.S. President Bill Clinton was politically weakened in 1998 as a result on the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. Clinton decided to bypass Congress and issue executive orders. Clinton aide Paul Begala…
George Washington (1732-1799) has appeared on the U.S. one-dollar bill since 1869. The joke "Time was when Washington's face was on all of our money; now it's Washington's (the…
"I don't need you when I'm right!" is a political saying that comes from Louisiana Governor Earl K. Long (1895-1960), although the saying has been cited in print since only 1961…
Entry in progress -- B.P. PAYGO (pay-as-you-go) CBS News - Political HotsheetSeptember 30, 2010 3:27 PM Boehner Proposes "CutGo" to Counter Dems' "Pay Go"Posted by…
"Your guess is as good as mine" is an old saying meaning that neither person knows for certain about something. An economist "guesses" about the economy, but it's supposed…
American investor Warren Buffett doesn't trust stockbrokers. If their advice was so great, why aren't they themselves rich? He told the Los Angeles (CA) Times in April 1991: "Wall…
"At my age, I don't even buy green bananas" is often credited to Florida Congressman Claude Pepper (1900-1989), but there's no documentary evidence that he said it before 1986.…
"Smashed potatoes" was, originally, another way of saying "mashed potatoes." The term "smashed potatoes" has been cited in print since at least 1859. The books Maine…
"Money can't buy happiness" is a proverb that has been cited in English since at least 1821. "Anyone who says money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to…
"Money can't buy happiness" is a proverb that has been cited in English since at least 1821. There have been many jocular additions to the proverb. A 1985 Chicago (IL) Tribune…
Citigroup CEO Chuck Prince told the Financial Times in July 2007: “When the music stops, in terms of liquidity, things will be complicated. But as long as the music is playing, you’ve got to…