Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) is supposed to have said: "When anyone says he's a country boy, put your hand on your wallet." The saying means that the "country boy" holds…
A Washington (DC) maxim is that Congress acts only when there is either "a crisis or a consensus." That is, either something is so basic that everyone agrees and forms a consensus, or…
Television news anchor (and Texas native) Dan Rather was credited with saying this in 1996: "Always marry a woman from Texas because she's always seen worse, no matter what happens to…
Joseph William Martin, Jr. (1884-1968) was a Republican Minority Leader in Congress in 1946; after Republicans won the November 1946 elections, Martin became the House Speaker. In February 1946,…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Free Merriam-Webster DictionarytDefinition of DEADBEAT1: loafer 2: one who persistently fails to pay personal debts or expenses Examples of DEADBEAT. His friends are just…
"Never give an opponent free publicity" is a political maxim of unknown authorship. The rule applies most to a candidate who is ahead in the polls; the front-running candidate can simply…
A "wedge issue" is a controversial issue that creates a "wedge" between certain voters. A 19th century wedge issue was slavery; a 20th century wedge issue was abortion.…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Urban DictionarydeadbeatIn creddit card industry lingo a deadbeat is soemone who DOES pay their bills on time and thus makes no profit.Forget the deadbeats, up the…
Entry in progress -- B.P. “If you’ve gained weight and nobody wants to mention it, you are the elephant in the room” is a joke on the saying. Wikipedia: Elephant in the room"Elephant in…
"When/After all is said and done, more is said than done" has been credited to football coach Lou Holtz (born 1937), but the expression was known before he was born. The saying is often…
"Hot and sour soup" is a popular Chinese restaurant menu item that's been cited in print since at least 1961. Joyce Chen (1917-1994) is often given credit for popularizing hot and…
"Crime wouldn't pay if the government ran it" is a humorous line about the basic incompetence of government. The quotation -- once popular with graffiti writers -- has been cited in…
"I must have money because I still have checks left" is a humorous line about someone who can't budget money. "How could I be overdrawn? -- I still have checks left"…
Bertram is a small city in Burnet County, about 45 miles northwest of Austin. It's slogan is "Home of the Oatmeal Festival," although the festival actually takes place in nearby…
The "Congressional Effect" is the name given to the theory that stock prices rise when the Congress is not in session. Eric T. Singer, creator of the Congressional Effect Fund in 2008,…
Hurricane Katrina of 2005 saw many Louisiana residents temporarily move to Texas. A popular Hurricane Katrina joke was: "Half of Louisiana is under water and the other half is under…
White House political advisor David Axelrod was asked about "hippie punching" in September 2010, but Axelrod wasn't familiar with the term. New York magazine defined "hippie…
Organized crime has long had a "code of silence," where one doesn't testify against another. The New York Police Department also had a "blue code of silence" (named after…
"9/11 was an inside job" is a slogan of 9/11 "truthers" who believe that the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center were a false flag operation organized by the…
Fudge was popularized by Vassar College in 1893 and quickly became a favorite food among boys and girls. "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge" is a mnemonic for E-G-B-D-F, the notes on the…