“I can spell ‘banana,’ but I never know when to stop”
The word "banana" is sometimes difficult to spell, with an extra "n" and "a" often added. An old joke told of a small child who said that he could spell…
Archive for 08/2009
Rooter (sports enthusiast)
Entry in progress -- B.P. fan Wikipedia: Royal RootersThe original Royal Rooters were a fan club for the Boston Red Sox in the early 20th century. They were led by Michael T. McGreevy, who owned a…
Luncheonette
A "luncheonette" was originally a small meal (a light lunch) that was served at drug stores, expanding the soda fountain service. "Luncheonette" is first cited in print in…
Supper Club
The "supper club" started in London and became popular in the second half of the 19th century. A "supper club" is a "night club," with food, music and dancing. An 1898…
Strip and Flip (Strip ‘n’ Flip)
"Strip and flip" (or "strip 'n' flip") is an investment term that sounds like something out of a gentleman's club. A company is acquired, reorganized…
Mount Bonnell (place name)
Mount Bonnell is a popular tourist destination in Austin, offering excellent views. It had long been thought that the name came from George W. Bonnell (?-1842), who moved to Austin in 1839 and…
“If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes” (weather saying)
"If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes (and it will change)" is a weather saying in many parts of the world. Mark Twain (1835-1910) is often credited with originating it,…
Guesstimate or Guestimate (guess + estimate)
A "guesstimate" is a "guess/estimate." Business and government economic forecasting involves what many call "guesstimates" or "guesstimation." The word…
“None of us is as smart as all of us”
"None of us is as smart as all of us" (given less frequently as "None of us are as smart as all of us") is a phrase often used in government, business and team sports. It's…
“Don’t cry about money—it never cries for you”
"Don't cry about money -- it never cries for you" was said by Kevin O'Leary to a contestant on the first televised show of Shark Tank (where entrepreneurs suggest business ideas…
Wise Latina
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1954, from parents of Puerto Rican descent. In Sotomayor's 2009 Senate confirmation hearing, a 2001 statement that she…
Boss Hog Bowl or Boss Hawg Bowl (Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington)
Cowboys Stadium (home of football's Dallas Cowboys) opened in Arlington, Texas, in 2009. Sports journalist and radio personality Randy Galloway called the proposed stadium "Boss Hawg…
Cowboys Cathedral or Cathedral of Football (Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington)
Cowboys Stadium (the home of football's Dallas Cowboys) opened in Arlington, Texas, in 2009. As early as 2006, the stadium was called "The New Cowboys Cathedral" and later "the…
City of Hills (Austin nickname)
The capital city of Austin is located in the Texas Hill Country and has long been noted for its many hills (or mounds). By at least 1841, Austin was called "City of the Hills." The…
Antonette’s Leap (Mount Bonnell in Austin)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Mount BonnellMount Bonnell (pronounced /bəˈnɛl/), also known as Covert Park, is a prominent point alongside Lake Austin in Austin, Texas. It has been a…
Fat Tax
A "fat tax" became an issue in the health care debate in 1993 (under U.s. President Bill Clinton) and 2009 (under U.S. President Barack Obama). A "fat tax" can be a tax directly…
Goldie Mac (Goldman Sachs + Freddie Mac)
The Wall Street Journal of July 15, 2009, added another to the financial firm of Goldman Sachs's growing list of nicknames -- "Goldie Mac." This a reminder of Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae…
Capitalist Tool (Forbes magazine slogan)
Forbes magazine has used the slogan "(The) Capitalist Tool" since 1966. The Forbes company once owned a DC-9 plane called "The Capitalist Tool." The Wall Street Journal, a daily…
Capitalist Bible (Wall Street Journal nickname)
Several publications have been called the "capitalist bible." Adam Smith's An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776) has frequently been called the…
Slump (Apple Slump)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Dictionary of American Regional Englishapple slump n [apple + slump] chiefly NEng, esp sNEng =apple pandowdy.1831 Finn