Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"Like nailing jelly to the wall" means something difficult-to-impossible. Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) coined the expression in April 1912: "Somebody asked me why I did not get an…
"Politics is the art by which politicians obtain campaign contributions from the rich and votes from the poor on the pretext of protecting each from the other," wrote Oscar Ameringer…
Dwight Morrow (1873-1931) gave a speech in October 1930, during his successful campaign for U.S. Senate from New Jersey: "Any party which takes credit for the rain must not be surprised if its…
"A fanatic is one who won't change his mind and won't change the subject" is a well-known saying that's often attributed to Winston Churchill (1874-1965), but Churchill…
"A practical politician is a man who shakes your hand before election and your acquaintance afterward" is a quotation that was widely reprinted in newspapers in September -October 1927,…
"Politician -- One who stands for what he thinks the voters will fall for" is one of the definitions in A Connotary; Definitions not found in dictionaries, collected from the sayings of…
"Honesty in politics is much like oxygen -- the higher up you go, the scarcer it becomes" is a humorous saying about politics that's cited frequently on the internet. George D.…
"Betty/Baby Eats Cake/Carrots And Uncle Sells/Sucks/Sam's Eggs” is a mnemonic aid that some have used to spell the word “because.” The version “Baby Eats Cake And Uncle Sells…
"When they call the roll in the Senate, the senators do not know whether to answer 'present' or 'not guilty'" is a saying usually credited to Theodore Roosevelt…
"Blackout in a can" is a nickname for a caffeinated, alcoholic energy drink, such as Four Loko. The caffeine prevents the consumer for realizing the alcoholic intake; drinking an entire…
The Texas Air National Guard 147th Fighter Interceptor Group, at Ellington Field in Houston, was dubbed the "champagne unit" because its members -- the sons of Texas elite -- would likely…
The first-ever "Small Business Saturday" occurred on November 27, 2010 -- sandwiched between the post-Thanksgiving shopping days of "Black Friday' and "Cyber Monday."…
"Shop 'til you drop" (or "shop till you drop" or "shop until you drop") is encouragement given by some retailers to consumers (especially…
A "shopaholic" is someone who loves to shop. The joke word formation implies that a "shopaholic" is addicted, like an "alcoholic." Similar words include…
The Cable News Network (CNN) was founded by Ted Turner and first broadcast on June 1, 1980. Other television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) laughed about CNN's seeming amateurishness and low…
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began in 2001 under the U.S. Department of Transportation; in 2003, TSA was moved to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. New airport scanners…
"Razzleberry pie" was trademarked by Marie Callender's restaurants, with a "first use" date of 1998. Marie Callender's razzleberry pie is made with raspberries and…
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people" is a popular saying, first cited in this form in 1931. The saying has been attributed to Eleanor…
Walter Heller (1915-1987), who was an economic advisor under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, said this in 1979: "An economist is a man who, when he finds something works in…
William Manchester's book, Portrait of a President: John F. Kennedy in profile (1962), includes a famous line: "'Washington,' John Kennedy once said lightly, 'is a city of…