Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"Never underestimate the intelligence of your readers/viewers, but never overestimate their knowledge" is a popular media maxim. Readers/viewers are smart, but they might not have all the…
"Check a story, lose a story" is an old saying in the gossip column business. The saying has been credit to Hollywood gossip columnists Hedda Hopper (1885-1966) and Louella Parsons…
"The editor's indecision is final" is a popular newspaper saying. The quotation has been cited in print since at least 1976 and is often associated with The Observer (London)…
"Names make (the) news" is a popular axiom of the press. People like to see their names in the press, and several people in government and in business are standard interviews on certain…
"The duty/job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable" is credited to the "Mr. Dooley character of Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936), who wrote in 1902:…
"There are no dull stories, only dull reporters/writers/authors" is often said about newspaper writing and other writing. Longtime New York City newspaper columist Franklin Pierce Adams…
"Taxicide" or "tax-icide" (tax + suicide) was the name given by the New York (NY) Daily News on February 20, 2010, to the February 18th incident in Austin, TX, where Joseph…
"Tell it to Sweeney! (The Stuyvesants will understand.)" was an advertisement for the New York (NY) Daily News, first appearing in August 1922. The Daily News positioned itself as the…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: GlobalismGlobalism can have at least two different and opposing meanings. One meaning is the attitude or policy of placing the interests of the entire world…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: GlobalismGlobalism can have at least two different and opposing meanings. One meaning is the attitude or policy of placing the interests of the entire world…
A "globocrat" (global + bureaucrat) can be a "global bureaucrat" (such as someone who works at the United Nations) or a "globalist" (someone who works for an…
Welcome to Fear City: A Survival Guide for Visitors to the City of New York (1975) was published by the Council for Public Safety -- police, firefighters and other unions. New York City was in dire…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Ham and eggsHam and eggs are a popular combination of foods often served as a breakfast meal in some English-speaking countries; the similar bacon and eggs are…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Baumol's cost diseaseBaumol's cost disease (also known as the Baumol Effect) is a phenomenon described by William J. Baumol and William G. Bowen in…
"Never go shopping (for food) when you're hungry" is a modern adage, cited in print since at least 1971. Studies showed that a hungry shopper spent more and a well-fed shopper spent…
"If it bleeds, it leads" means that tabloid newspapers and radio/television news lead their news reports with sensationalist stories, such as violence. The saying "if it bleeds, it…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksA Treasury of Wall Street WisdomBy Harry D. Schultz and Samson Coslow Palisades Park, NJ: Investors' Press1966Pg. ?:Volume "follows the trend";…
"A grapefruit is a lemon that had a chance and took advantage of it!" is a witticism first cited in print in 1913 and credited to someone named "Baer" -- possibly Arthur…
A Wall Street saying since at least the 1960s is that "fear and greed move markets." Thomas N. Mathers, president of a Chicago investment counselling firm (Mathers and Company) and…
"Slice and dice" (to cut into small cubes) are rhyming words that have been cited in print since at least 1912. The term "slice and dice" has also been used in computer science…