Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"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…
Calvin Trillin -- frequently described as "America's funniest food writer" -- is often credited with this joke about leftovers: "The most remarkable thing about my mother is…
"St. Wapniacl" was the old mnemonic to remember the offices of the President of the United States' Cabinet. It was arranged in order of creation and importance: State, Treasury, War,…
"St. Wapniacl" was the old mnemonic (since at least 1917) to remember the offices of the President of the United States' Cabinet. It was arranged in order of creation and importance:…
"Never Eat Chips/Cheese/Cake, Eat Salad/Salmon Sandwiches And Remain Young” is a mnemonic aid that some have used to spell the word “necessary.” The line “Never Eat Chips: Eat Salad…
"Can/May I have a large container of coffee right now" is one of several mnemonic ways to remember the value of Pi (3.141592653). The word "may" has 3 letters, "I" has…
"A Rat In The House May/Might Eat The Ice Cream" is a mnemonic aid that some have used to spell the word "arithmetic." The line "a rat in the house may eat the ice…
"Kids Prefer Cheese Over Fried Green Spinach" is a mnemonic device for remembering the biological groupings used in taxonomy: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. The…
"King Henry Died Monday Drinking Chocolate Milk" is a mnemonic device for remembering the metric units, in descending order: kil-, hecto-, deka-, meter-, deci-, centi-, milli-. The…