Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Stand-up comedian Samantha Ruddy explained Gatorade on Twitter on December 29, 2018: "Gatorade is a drink for both world class athletes and hungover drunks who don’t know how they got home…
Wikipedia: Ghost Light (theatre) A ghost light is an electric light that is left energized on the stage of a theater when the theater is unoccupied and would otherwise be completely dark. It…
The Free Dictionarythe ghost walksAn expression used in theater to explain that actors will perform because they have been assured of payment. The phrase possibly originated when an actor playing…
"Thank you, five" (or "Thank you, 5") is a theater saying that has been printed on many images. A stage manager walks around just before the opening curtain and says, "Five…
"Thank you, five" (or "Thank you, 5") is a theater saying that has been printed on many images. A stage manager walks around just before the opening curtain and says, "Five…
"Two dow shay" is a spoonerism for "two show day." Two shows a day is a business day in the theater, and the joke is that it's so exhausting that even the term can't…
"Booked and blessed" is the dream of every performer. The saying (sometimes as "busy, booked & blessed," "booked, busy & blessed" and other variations) has…
"Booked and blessed" is the dream of every performer. The saying (sometimes as "busy, booked & blessed," "booked, busy & blessed" and other variations) has…
"Booked and blessed" is the dream of every performer. The saying (sometimes as "busy, booked & blessed," "booked, busy & blessed" and other variations) has…
"Booked and blessed" is the dream of every performer. The saying (sometimes as "busy, booked & blessed," "booked, busy & blessed" and other variations) has…
"Booked and blessed" is the dream of every performer. The saying (sometimes as "busy, booked & blessed," "booked, busy & blessed" and other variations) has…
"Booked and blessed" is the dream of every performer. The saying (sometimes as "busy, booked & blessed," "booked, busy & blessed" and other variations) has…
"Booked and blessed" is the dream of every performer. The saying (sometimes as "busy, booked & blessed," "booked, busy & blessed" and other variations) has…
"Screlt" is a portmanteau word of "scream"/"screech" and "belt." It's usually given as "screlting," and a person who does this is a…
"Park and bark" refers to when a singer -- especially in an opera -- parks in a certain place and barks out the music. Modern performances try to eliminate "park-and-bark" by…
"Booked and blessed" is the dream of every performer. The saying (sometimes as "busy, booked & blessed," "booked, busy & blessed" and other variations) has…
"Showmance" is a portmanteau of the words "show" and "romance." For example, if the two leads of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet fall in love in real…
"Two dow shay" is a spoonerism for "two show day." Two shows a day is a business day in the theater, and the joke is that it's so exhausting that even the term can't…
The "money note" is a note that a singer can reach and wow the audience with. The term "money note" has been used in the opera, in pop music and in musical theater.…
"Coffee keeps me off the naughty list" is a Christmas saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2016. FacebookGrab your coffee..I want…