“The bottom of the fifth” (alcohol saying)
Whiskey used to be sold in fifths of a gallon. "The bottom of the fifth" can refer to the fifth inning of a baseball game, but to an alcoholic it can mean the last fifth of alcohol. The…
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“The Bowery” (1892)
This popular song about an infamous New York street (now slowly being gentrified) is a New York City standard. http://www.musicals101.com/lybowery.htmSample Lyrics"The Bowery"Music by…
“The Boys on the Big Apple” (Harper’s Bazaar article, May 1947)
Harper Bazaar published "The Boys on the Big Apple" by John McNulty (1895-1956) in May 1947, on pages 166-169, 235-236. The article is noteworthy for its expansive definition of…
“The brain never stops working until you start to speak in public”
A popular public speaking joke was cited in print in March 1949 and credited to Dublin Opinion: "The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts working the moment you are born, and never…
“The brain starts working when you get up, and doesn’t stop until you get into the office”
A joke was told in Hardware Age in 1928 and was reprinted in many newspapers and magazines: "The human brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment we get up in the morning, and…
“The brave don’t live forever, but the cautious don’t live at all”
"The brave don't live forever/long, but the cautious don't live at all" (or "Brave men don't live forever...") is a saying that has been printed on posters. The…
“The bread never falls but on its buttered side”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Answers.comProverbs: The bread never falls but on its buttered side A formulation of Murphy's Law; cf. if anything can go wrong, it will. His bread never fell on the…
“The bright side of Christmas… Everyone at Walmart will be wearing new pajamas”
People often get new pajamas at Christmas. Walmart (a large retail chain store) does not have a strict dress code. "Everyone at Walmart will be wearing new pajamas" was posted on…
“The British cannibal enjoyed snacking on fish and chaps”
"The British cannibal enjoyed snacking on fish and chaps.[Click to Vote!]" was posted on Twitter by Guy Steel on November 7, 2012. "The British cannibal enjoyed snacking on fish and…
“The broccoli says, ‘I look like a small tree’ ...” (joke)
A banana reminds many of the male sex organ. A joke is: "The broccoli says, ' I look like a small tree.' The mushroom says, 'I look like an umbrella.' The walnut says,…
“The broker made money and the brokerage firm made money – and two out of three ain’t bad”
There's an old Wall Street joke told when an investor loses money: ""The broker made money and the (brokerage) firm made money – and two out of three ain’t bad." The broker…
“The Bronx is burning” (1972; alleged Howard Cosell quote during the 1977 World Series)
"Ladies and Gentleman, the Bronx is burning" is the title of a 2005 book. It's from a alleged quote by the late Howard Cosell during a World Series game on October 12, 1977. The…
“The Bronx” (Batley, England)
Batley, England has been called "the Bronx" because of its rough citizens. http://indianewswatch.blogspot.com/2005/07/authorities-probe-pakistani-linked-to.htmlAswat, 31, grew up in…
“The Bronze winner is always happier than the one who wins Silver”
In the Olympics, a gold medal is first place, a silver medal is second place, and a bronze medal is third place. Silver winners are often unhappy, and there are sayings such as "Second place…
“The Brooklyn Dodgers have three on base.”/“Which base?”
On August 15, 1926, in a game at Ebbets Field against the Boston Braves. the Brooklyn Dodgers had the bases loaded. Babe Herman (1903-1987) hit a ball that the runners thought would be caught. Hank…
“The bubonic plague, the flu, and HIV walk into a bar… (bar joke)
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." There are various "sick joke" versions. "A pile of vomit walks into a bar,…
“The buck stops here” (accept responsibility)
"Pass the buck" means to avoid responsibility. "The buck stops here" means to accept responsibility. This was printed in the Lincoln (NE) Evening Journal on October 2, 1929:…
“The bull walks up the stairs and the bear jumps out the window”
"The bull walks up the stairs and thee bear jumps out the window" means that a market drops ("bear") faster than it rises ("bull"). The saying has been cited in print…
“The Burning of the School” (“Battle Hymn of the Republic” parody)
Various versions of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" change the lyrics into an anti-school anthem, often called "The Burning of the School." The following was cited in February…
“The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work”
There's a joke about being a little behind in work: "The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work." The joke has been cited in print since at least…