“No applause—just throw money”
"No applause -- just throw money" is an entertainment gag line of uncertain authorship. Some insist that the line is from vaudeville in the early 1900s, but it has been cited in print…
Alphebetical for "n"
“No bees, no honey; no work, no money”
"No bees, no honey" (Neque mel, neque apes) is a Latin phrase that means that, according to Erasmus (1466-1536), "every convenience hath its concomitant inconvenience." A…
“No biggie” (no big deal)
"No biggie" means "no big deal." A "biggie" is a "big deal," something important. "No real biggie" was said in 1973 by a narcotics agent, referring…
“No bill is truly dead until the final gavel falls”
"No bill is truly dead until the final gavel falls" is a popular legislative adage of unknown authorship. "No bill is dead until the gavel bangs adjournment" was cited in a…
“No blood for oil”
"No blood for oil" was popularized as a protest chant during the Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm (August 2, 1990-February 28, 1991). The anti-war slogan was also used in the Iraq…
“No body won the skeleton race”
A skeleton beauty contest? "Who won the skeleton beauty contest? No body" was posted to the newsgroup alt.folklore.ghost-stories on October 31, 1997. "I heard no body won the…
“No bowl of borscht”
"No bowl of borscht" appears to possibly have been a short-lived New York City variant of "not chopped liver." A Southern variation of the same idea would be to compare…
“No Brag, Just Fact”
"No brag, just fact" is sometimes said to be an old Texas saying, but it originated on the short-lived television western The Guns of Will Sonnett (1967). Will Sonnett (played by Walter…
“No brain, no gain, Stay in school”
"No brain, no gain" -- a rhyme similar to "No pain, no gain" -- is an education saying that has been printed on many images. "No brain, no gain" was printed in…
“No bucks, no Buck Rogers” (space industry adage)
"No bucks, no Buck Rogers" is a popular space industry adage meaning that unless there is money (such as from the federal government), there can be no space adventures (like Buck Rogers,…
“No champagne, no gain”
"No champagne, no gain" is a drinking variation on "no pain, no gain" that has been printed on many images. "No champagne, no gain" has been cited in print since at…
“No cheering in the press box” (sports journalism adage)
New York (NY) Times sportswriter Arthur Daley wrote in September 1950: "Perhaps there is something to the ancient but stern admonition: 'No cheering in the press box, please.'"…
“No coffee, no workee”
"No coffee, no workee" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as coffee mugs, T-shirts and bumper stickers. "No tickee, no shirtee/washee" is the…
“No cop, no stop”
"No cop, no stop" is a popular cycling adage. If a cyclist sees a stop sign, and there is no traffic and no traffic cop, the cyclist frequently applies the "no cop, no stop"…
“No cuts, no buts, no coconuts”
"No cuts, no buts, no coconuts" is a rhyming way of saying that one shouldn't cut in line. The "no coconuts" is not necessary, but is added to fill out the rhyme. The…
“No Democrat has been elected president without carrying Texas”
"No Democrat has been elected president without carrying Texas" held true from 1845 until 1992 (when Bill Clinton was elected president), 1996 (when Bill Clinton was re-elected president)…
“No diet Coke, no skim milk, no decaf coffee—Just good food” (Pepe Rosso)
The Pepe Rosso chain of restaurants (Pepe Giallo is at 253 Tenth Avenue) offers old-fashioned Italian food at reasonable prices. The motto is: "No diet Coke, no skim milk, no decaf coffee --…
“No dogs or Mexicans allowed” (“No Mexicans or dogs allowed”)
Signs reading "No dogs or Mexicans allowed" (or "No Mexicans or dogs allowed") were placed in some restaurants in Texas and the Southwest in the 1950s and 1960s. The civil…
“No farmer, no food, no future”
"No farmer(s), no food, no future" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The protest slogan has been cited in Canada since 1990, but is now worldwide. "No farmers. no…
“No farmers, no food, no future”
"No farmer(s), no food, no future" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The protest slogan has been cited in Canada since 1990, but is now worldwide. "No farmers. no…