“Gridlock is good”
"Gridlock" is a term from the New York City streets, describing when the "grid" (intersection) is "locked" (full of cars unable to move). The term was popularized in…
“Pig through the python” (“Pig in a python”)
The "pig in a python" syndrome or effect (also "pig in the python," "pig through a python" and "pig through the python") describes swallowing and digesting…
“Soup is liquid comfort”
"Soup is liquid comfort" has appeared on a few lists of food quotations, but there is no obvious source of the saying. The term "liquid comfort" has long been applied to…
“If all economists were laid end to end, they’d never reach a conclusion”
"If economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion" is a quip usually attributed to George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), but there is no evidence that he said it. In May…
Prewalking
"Prewalking" means to stand at the subway platform and board the train in the subway car that will save the most walking time upon exit. "Prewalking" was the Urban…
“American politics are played between the 40-yard lines”
"There's an old saying that politics in America is played between the 40-yard lines," wrote Fred Barnes (see 1988 citation below). "What this means, for those unfamiliar with…
“I’m not gaining weight—I’m retaining food”
"I'm not gaining weight -- I'm retaining food" is a saying that's been placed on T-shirts and bumper stickers. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2006.…
Gravitas
'Gravitas" (Latin for "gravity," or "weight" or "heaviness") is something many people look for in political leaders. It implies a certain seriousness and…
Great Right Hope (Great White Hope)
Jack Johnson (1878-1946) became the first black world heavyweight boxing champion in 1908. On July 4, 1910, former champion Jim Jeffries (1875-1953) un-retired to fight Johnson. Jeffires was called…
“I would cook dinner, but I can’t find the can opener”
"I would cook dinner, but I can't find the can opener!" is a joke indicating that the speaker can't cook fresh, healthy food. The saying has appeared on a list of "Kitchen…
“Sleep ‘til you’re hungry, eat ‘til you’re sleepy”
"Eat when you're hungry" is an old saying and has been cited in print since at least 1841. In the 1880s, former Chicago mayor "Long John" Wentworth (1815-1888) said:…
“Four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles”
Chocolate lovers often say that there are "four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles." The saying has been cited in print since at…
“Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" is often incorrectly credited to Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), but Emerson never wrote it.…
“George Washington slept here”
Historic American inns often make the overused claim: "George Washington slept here." George Washington fought in New York City and was inaugurated president in New York City (briefly the…
Fweedom (freedom + weed)
"Fweedom" (freedom + weed) is a word used by people who want to legalize marijuana in the United States. At the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert "Rally to Restore Sanity" in…
Fux News (Fox News nickname)
The Fox News Channel (headquartered in Manhattan) has often been criticized for conservative bias. The profane nickname “Fux News" has been used by some critics of Fox News since at least…
Centroplex (Belton/Killeen/Temple nickname)
"Centroplex" is an imitation of "Metroplex" (Dallas/Fort Worth, trademarked from January 1972). In December 1972, the Dallas-area city of Grand Prairie briefly used the name…
Petroplex (Midland/Odessa nickname)
"Petroplex" is an imitation of "Metroplex" (Dallas/Fort Worth, trademarked from January 1972). The west Texas cities of Midland and Odessa -- where petroleum is the most…
Pumpkin Capital USA (Floydada nickname)
Floydada (the county seat of Floyd County) calls itself "Pumpkin Capital USA." About one million pumpkins come from Floydada's 1,500 acres. In 1987, Floydada began its "Punkin…
“Cool beans” (slang)
"Cool beans!" is an exclamation meaning "Excellent!" or "Wonderful!" The term "cool beans" appears to have been used in the Cheech and Chong movie Up in…