Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"When the truth comes out, don't ask me how I knew. Ask yourself why you didn't" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying implies that who some people call…
"Today's forecast calls for a 100% chance of coffee" is a coffee saying that has been printed on many images. "wet&dreary nh morn. And a 100% chance of coffee NOW!" was…
"Author! Author!" are shouts that members of the theater audience make on the opening night of a successful play. The playwright then usually comes out and takes a bow, after the actors.…
"My rights are not subject to your feelings" is a saying that has been repeated many times. No particular person appears to have popularized it. "My constitutional RIGHTS are not…
Many people watching soccer (especially World Cup soccer) have long believed that the soccer players fall down and "act" to draw penalties on the opposing players. "I just went to a…
"If the truth makes you uncomfortable, don’t blame the truth. Blame the lie that made you feel comfortable" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "If the truth makes…
"Support your local anything" is a business saying that has been printed on many images. It's another version of "buy local" or "eat local" or "shop…
"Dear Santa, I was naughty and it was worth it. You fat judgmental bastard" is a jocular Christmas saying that has been printed on many images. Sometimes "Judgmental" is given…
"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…
"I take my coffee with two scoops of it's too early for this shit and a splash of zip it until noon" is a coffee saying that has been printed on many images. "I take my coffee…
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in vaccines, and many unvaccinated people warned that these vaccines were dangerous. A "joke" was that when a vaccinated person died…
"Screlt" is a portmanteau word of "scream"/"screech" and "belt." It's usually given as "screlting," and a person who does this is a…
"Screlt" is a portmanteau word of "scream"/"screech" and "belt." It's usually given as "screlting," and a person who does this is a…
Vaudeville was popular in America from the 1880s to the 1930s. Vaudeville acts were short, and a vaudeville actor in the theater was called a "twenty-minute actor." "Twenty-minute…
Alphabet pasta (called "alphabet spaghetti" in the UK) has had a few puns. "Instead of alphabet spaghetti they should make alphabet butter. Spread the word" was posted on…
Alphabet pasta (called "alphabet spaghetti" in the UK) has had a few puns. "Instead of alphabet spaghetti they should make alphabet butter. Spread the word" was posted on…
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…
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…