Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
U.S. President Harry S. Truman said in a 1950 news conference: "Don't you know that is the way a Congressman gets reelected? Never vote for a tax bill and never vote against an…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikiquote: W. C. FieldsW. C. Fields (29 January 1880 – 25 December 1946), born William Claude Dukenfield, was an American Actor and Comedian. Sourced. I never voted for…
"Born Free, (But) Taxed to Death" is a common anti-tax slogan, found on T-shirts and bumper stickers. The saying has been cited in print from at least 1974 and has been popular in…
"During a campaign, the air is full of speeches -- and vice versa" (the reverse, meaning "the speeches are full of air") is a humorous quip that appears to date from the 1960s.…
"Nobody believes a rumor here (in Washington, DC -- ed.) until it's officially denied" was said by labor attorney Edward Cheyfitz (1913-1959) in 1958, recorded in the magazine Look.…
"What the country needs is more unemployed politicians" has been credited, in 1982, to artist Edward Langley (1928-1995). The quotation was credited, in 2000, to political activist and…
"I don't make jokes -- I just watch the government and report the facts" (meaning that the government is enough of a joke) is attributed to humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935). Rogers…
American political satirist P. J. O'Rourke delivered "The Liberty Manifesto" on May 6, 1993, at the opening of the Cato Institute's Washington, DC headquarters: "Health…
A "pitmaster" (or "pit master") is the chef of a barbecue pit. The term "barbecue pit master" has been cited in print since at least 1961, but "pitmaster"…
"Leftwaffe" or "leftwaffe" (left + Luftwaffe) is an epithet used by some on the political right against the political lett. The Luftwaffe was the Nazi air force in World War II.…
"My cup of tea" (or, "not my cup of tea") indicates a personal preference, something a person likes or dislikes. The term "cup of tea" appears to have originated in…
Entry in progress -- B.P. "banana republic" Wikipedia: Absurdistan Absurdistan is a term sometimes used to satirically describe a country in which absurdity is the norm, especially in its…
A "meatkini" (meat + bikini) is not to be confused with the drink "meatini" (meat + martini). The recording artist Lady Gaga posed in a meat dress or "meatkini" for…
The Halleran family ("The real estate man") has a longstanding Queens real estate business. One popular slogan was: "So this is Flushing." A publication titled So this is…
"Copper wire was invented by two Jews/Scots/Irish/Dutch/lawyers fighting over the same penny" is a joke that stereotypes an individual or group for being tight with money. The joke…
There is a United States House Committee on Appropriations and there is a United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. An Appropriations Committee appointment usually has been coveted for its…
The "enthusiasm gap" became a political buzz term for the 2010 midterm elections; many political commentators felt that the tea party demonstrations had given much more enthusiasm to…
Poets Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) and Peter Orlovsky (1933-2010) lived at 437 East 12th Street in Manhattan. Ginsberg lived in what came to be called "The Poet's Building" from…
"Educrat" (education/educator + bureaucrat) is a word that appears to have been coined by Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk in January 1967. The term is usually derogatory, used by those…
A "living room liberal" is a person who holds liberal views in the privacy of his or her living room, but who who doesn't apply those views to the greater world of other people with…