Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google News Archive2 February 1984, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), "Banquet attracts 900 stars" by John Blanchette, pg. 21, col. 4:On any player who spikes…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Dollar DiplomacyDollar Diplomacy is the term used to describe the effort of the United States — particularly under President William Howard Taft — to…
The United States' federal debt limit was $2 trillion in the early 1980s. One Congressman joked in 1985: "What comes after a trillion?" A quadrillion is one thousand trillion. In…
"The girl who can't dance says the band can't play" is an often-cited Yiddish proverb that, in English, dates to at least 1949. The proverb has been used in government and…
The Texas fast food restaurant chains of Taco Bueno and Taco Casa both serve a "chilada." The name might be derived from "chili" and either "enchilada" or…
Entry in progress -- B.P. The Center for Public IntegrityStimulating Hypocrisy: Scores of Recovery Act Opponents Sought Money Out of Public View By John Solomon and Aaron Mehta | October 17, 2010…
A "pocketbook issue" (like a "bread-and-butter issue") is an issue that concerns voters because it directly affects their wealth. The term "pocketbook issue" is cited…
People will "vote their pocketbooks" (that is, they will vote in their financial best interests) have isolated citations in the 1910s, but became popular after the New Deal legislation of…
"If you don't like the news, go out and make some of your own" is a catchphrase of Wes "Scoop" Nisker, a San Francisco (CA) broadcaster. Nisker has used the phrase since…
Heterosexual affairs by politicians have historically been tolerated, but homosexuals affairs have not. "Never get caught in bed with a dead woman or a live man" (or, "Never get…
"Low taxes are the result of low spending" was the slogan of Meldrim Thomson Jr. (1912-2001), a Republican governor of New Hampshire from 1973-1979. In 1978, the New York (NY) Times…
Political consultant James Carville explained a favored phrase in his book All's Fair (1995): "When your opponent is drowning, throw the son of a bitch an anvil. — the CEO of a large…
One criticism of the media is that news covers the abnormal and not the normal. It's often said that one plane crash makes news, but a thousand planes that land safely do not make news. The…
The National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded in 1966 to protect and advocate for women’s rights. Some NOW critics have claimed that the organization is anti-conservative and shills for…
Jon Stewart announced his October 30, 2010 "The Rally to Restore Sanity" on Comedy Central's The Daily Show on September 16, 2010. Stewart suggested one sign: "I disagree with…
"Happier than a bird with a french fry" is a relatively new saying. There are several prints for "Happier Than a Bird with a French Fry," such as "TODAY I WILL BE HAPPIER…
"What Would Jesus Do?" (WWJD) is a saying from the 19th century. A drink variant of "WWJD" -- "Who Wants Jack Daniel's?" ("We Want Jack Daniel's")…
"What Would Jesus Do?" (WWJD) is a saying from the 19th century. A food variant of "WWJD" -- "We Want Jelly Donuts" or "Who Wants Jelly Donuts?" -- has been…
"There's plenty of room for all God's creatures -- right next to the mashed potatoes" has been an advertisement for the Saskatoon Restaurant in Greenville, SC, since at least…
"Economists do it with models" is one of many professional "do it" jokes that have been put on T-shirts and bumper stickers. "Operations researchers do it with models"…