“Can’t dance and it’s too wet to plow”
"Can't dance and it's too wet to plow" means the same as "might as well" (that is, there's nothing else one can do). The phrase is cited in Ken Kesey's…
“It’s so dry, the trees are bribing the dogs” (Texas heat joke)
"So dry the trees are bribing the dogs" was in a Texas proverbs list by Anne Dingue in the December 1994 Texas Monthly. The saying has been in many "Texas Sayings" lists since…
Log-rolling (Logrolling)
Political "logrolling" (or "log-rolling") is a tit-for-tat exchange. In early America, logs had to be rolled to clear land and one person often needed the help of others. When…
Pork Barrel
The pork barrel was a prized culinary possession in the 19th century, able to feed many mouths. "Pork barrel" and "pork" came to mean special political benefits to a particular…
Porkulus or Porkulous; Porkapalooza; Porktastic (full of “pork barrel” spending)
In 2009, President Barack Obama presented an economic stimulus bill with an almost $1 trillion cost. Conservative commentators pointed out that the stimulus bill was loaded with "pork…
“Put some South in your mouth!”
"Put some South in your mouth!" (also "Put a little South in your mouth!" or "Put the South in your mouth!) is a phrase that has been popularized by restaurants selling…
“If you owe a bank thousands, you have a problem; owe a bank millions, the bank has a problem”
There's an old banking proverb: "If you owe the bank thousands (a small amount), then you have a problem. If you owe the bank millions (a large amount), then the bank has a problem."…
Domino (to give birth)
"To domino" means "to give birth," cited in Texas from the 1960s. The expression comes from the game of dominoes, where "to domino" is to end the game. It's not…
“If I tell you a hen dips snuff, you can look under its wing”
"If I tell you a hen dips snuff, you can look under its wing (and you'll find a whole can)" is an expression that means the speaker is telling the truth, and it can be checked out.…
“A lick and a promise”
"A lick and a promise" refers to a cursory washing or cleaning ("lick"), with a "promise" to do a more thorough job later. The phrase "a lick and a promise"…
“Money, Marbles and Chalk” (“Money, Marbles or Chalk”)
"Money, marbles and chalk" (or "money, marbles or chalk") means "going for everything." Similar phrases might be "all the marbles" and "the whole kit…
Gimlet (cocktail)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Gimlet (cocktail) The gimlet is a cocktail typically made of gin or vodka and lime juice. A 1928 description of the drink was: "gin, a spot of lime, and…
“Elections have consequences”
"Actions have consequences" is an ancient truism, very obvious and not attributed to any particular speaker. "Ideas have consequences" is the title of a 1948 book by philosopher…
Sport Pepper
Entry in progress -- B.P. Vienna BeefVienna® Sport PeppersReal Chicago Style Dogs Always Pack A Little Heat.Emil Reichel and Sam Ladany knew what they were doing when they made sport peppers one…
World Capital of Capital (World Capital of Capitalism)
New York City is sometimes called "Capital of the World" because it's home to the United Nations. This unofficial title is seldom written as "the world's capital" or…
“Spend like drunken sailors” (“Spend like a drunken sailor”)
"Spend money like drunken sailors" (or "spend money like a drunken sailor") means to have few fiscal constraints, or to spend money freely. In the 1700s and 1800s, sailors were…
“That’s the way the cookie crumbles”
"That's the way the cookie crumbles" (also "that's how the cookie crumbles") means that even a good thing (a cookie) sometimes breaks apart. A similar expression…
“Hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk”
"It's so hot," runs the expression, "that you can fry an egg on the sidewalk!" New York City has plenty of sidewalks. Is it ever possible to fry an egg on one? A…
Birch Beer
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Birch beerBirch beer is a carbonated soft drink made from herbal extracts, usually from birch bark. It has a taste similar to root beer, with a slightly minty…
Grandma Pizza (Grandma Slice)
Entry in progress -- B.P. A "grandpa pizza"/"grandpa slice" is sometimes sold, but there are no standard ingredients for this. Wikipedia: PizzaNew York-style pizza is a style…