Happy Hour
"Happy hour" originally meant an "hour of happiness" (often childhood happiness) and is cited in print from about 1702. The term "happy hour" was used in the navy…
Archive for 12/2008
“Waiting for the other shoe to drop” (business idiom)
"Waiting for the other shoe to drop" is a popular business idiom. A person wears two shoes; when a person takes off one shoe and drops it on the floor, it's expected that the other…
Widow-and-Orphan Stock (Widows’-and-Orphans’ Stock)
A "widow-and-orphan stock" (or "widows'-and-orphans' stock") is a well-known, low-risk stock that pays high dividends. Widows and orphans have long been thought to be…
City Chicken
The name "city chicken" is first cited in Ohio on 1926. "City chicken" is not chicken at all -- it's cubes of meat (such as pork or veal) placed on skewers, then breaded…
Triple Witching Hour/Day (Quadruple Witching Hour/Day)
"Triple witching" is the third Friday of March, June, September and December when stock index futures, stock market index options, and stock options all expire. The day is called…
“You can’t push a string” (economics adage)
Pulling a string is easy; pushing a string is difficult, with the string quickly losing its straightness. The term "pushing (on) a string" has been cited in print since at least 1910. In…
Javelina or Jabalina or Javalina or Mexican hog (collared peccary)
The collared peccary wasa familiar sight to Texans of the 19th century. The animal is popularly called "javelina" or ""jabalina" or "javalina" or "Mexican…
Tamalada (tamale-making party)
The tamal (tamale) can take a long time to properly prepare. Tamales are often served on Christmas (and other festive occasions); before the occasion, a tamalada (tamale-making party) is usually…
Texas Trifecta (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio/Austin)
"Texas Trifecta" can mean any three things that are Texas-related. "Texas Trifecta" has been used to refer to three Texas cities --Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio or Austin.…
“Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” (newsboy shout)
"Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" The cry of the newsboys is well-remembered, even if the newsboys haven't survived into the internet age of the 21st century. Newspapers published…
“What’s black and white and read all over?” (newspaper riddle)
"What's black and white and re(a)d all over?" The newspaper riddle has been cited in print from at least 1824. WikiAnswersQ: What is black and white and read all over?In: Jokes and…
“Wall Street indexes predicted nine out of the last five recessions” (Paul Samuelson)
Economist Paul Samuelson used his Newsweek column of September 19, 1966 to show that the market and that economists often get things wrong: "Wall Street indexes predicted nine out of the last…
“The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent” (Keynes?)
"The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent" (or, "The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent") is a statement often attributed to…
“Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut” (business proverb)
"Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut" is an old business proverb that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts and bumper stickers. The barber is in the…
Yoyos or Yo-Yos (Mexican pastries)
"Yo-yos" (named after the still-popular 1920s toy of a disk on a string) is the name of a Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce) that resembles the toy, minus the string. A "yo-yo" has…
Eighth Wonder of the World (compound interest)
Compound interest is so amazing an investment concept that it's been called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Credit for "Eighth Wonder" has been assigned to Benjamin Franklin…
“Time in the market is better than timing the market” (Wall Street adage)
"Time in the market is better than timing the market" means that, over time, the stock market will yield successful returns. It is impossible to accurately time the market highs and lows.…
Honest Politician (when bought, stays bought)
In politics, an "honest man" is often described as someone (a politician or a voter) who, when bought, stays bought. A "dishonest man" is someone who sides with the person who…
“Wise old owl” poem
The four-line poem "A Wise Old Owl" is cited in print from at least 1883, but is of unknown authorship. A 1904 source (below) credits "the immortal poet Bromley." The wise old…
Kung Pao Chicken (Kung Po Chicken)
Kung Pao chicken (also spelled "Kung Po" on American menus) originates from the Sichuan Province of China, where it's called gōng bǎo (palace guardian). The dish is named after…