Horndog High (James Madison High School nickname)
Brooklyn's James Madison High School was dubbed "Horndog High" by the New York (NY) Daily News in December 2009, after two language teachers were caught by a janitor for apparently…
Archive for 03/2010
Kitchenista
A "kitchenista" is someone who loves to be in the kitchen. The term uses the same derivative ending ("-ista") as the popular term "fashionista" from the 1990s;…
“Up a staircase, down an elevator” (Wall Street adage)
"Up a staircase, down an elevator" means that a market rises slowly (stairs) and falls quickly (elevator). The saying has been cited in print since at least 2007. A similar saying is:…
Demon Pass (Deem and Pass)
Entry in progress -- B.P. MediaiteCNN’s Ed Henry Won’t Let Robert Gibbs Pass on ‘Deem and Pass’by Tommy Christopher | 3:41 pm, March 16th, 2010The House Democrats’ procedural “Deem and…
“What’s the difference between roast beef and pea soup?” (joke)
An old burlesque gag is: "Q. What's the difference between roast beef and pea soup? A. You can roast beef (but you can't pee soup)." The joke is also given as: "Q.…
“Under capitalism, man exploits man; under communism, it is the other way around’’
Both Poland and Russia claim this capitalism/communism joke in 1958. From Journey to Poland and Yugoslavia (1958) by John Kenneth Galbreath: "Do you know the difference between capitalism and…
“Nobody shoots at Santa Claus”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Al SmithAlfred Emanuel Smith, Jr. (December 30, 1873 – October 4, 1944), known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American politician who was…
Teatard (tea party participant + retard)
"Teatard" [TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party participant + retard] is an epithet used against the anti-tax, pro-smaller government "tea party" rallies that were popularized on…
“In the stock market, there’s a fine line between being wrong and being early”
Timing the stock market is a tricky thing to do. "In the stock market, there's a fine line beween being wrong and being early" (or, "In the stock market, there's a fine…
Dimocrat (dim + Democrat)
"Dimocrat" (dim + Democrat, also lowercase "dimocrat") is a derogatory nickname for a member of the Democrat party. "Dimocrat" is cited in print since at least June…
“Nothing is older than yesterday’s newspaper”
Entry in progress -- B.P. 1 July 1926, Seattle (WA) Daily Times, "Bo-Broadway" by Can Raalte, pg. 6, col. 4:The one thing in this world older than yesterday's newspaper is a…
“Overnight is a long time in politics; a week is forever”
"Overnight is a long time (in politics) and a week is forever" has been said by television news journalist Dan Rather many times since at least 1983. Some of Rather's statements…
“There is nothing wrong with the charts, only the chartists”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia; Chartist (occupation)A chartist (also known as a technical trader or technical analyst) is one who utilizes charts to assess patterns of activity that might be…
“I made a killing in the stock market today—I shot my broker”
The term "to make a killing in the (stock) market" means "to make a lot of money" and dates to at least 1913. A joke with the term "market" surfaced by 1956:…
“Now is always the most difficult time to invest”
"Now is always the most difficult time to invest" is an investment adage, with the joke being that it is always "now" and always a difficult time. Charles Welles Buek, an…
“To speculate in Wall Street when you are no longer an insider, is like buying cows by candlelight”
Bouck White's The book of Daniel Drew (1910) is a semi-fictional biography that is sometimes mistaken for an autobiography of American financier Daniel Drew (1797-1879). The book contains two…
“If you hear that everybody is buying a certain stock, ask who is selling”
James Dines, editor of The Dines Letter (online investment advice), said in 1983: "If you hear that everybody is buying a certain stock, ask who is selling." The investment saying has…
Carne Guisada
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: List of Mexican cuisine dishesCarne guisada, stewed beef in spiced gravy 3 February 1921, Imparcial de Texas (San Antonio, TX), pg. 11:CARNE GUISADA EN SALSA DE…
“Return of principal is more important than return on principal”
Entry in progress -- B.P. 29 April 1997, Providence (RI) Journal, "Out-of-state banking requires care" by Neil Downing, pg. E1:"It's the old Will Rogers maxim: Return of…
“The stock market has spoiled more appetites than bad cooking”
"The stock market has spoiled more appetites than bad cooking" is a slightly incorrect quotation by humorist WIll Rogers (1879-1935). The actual quote, recorded in a newspaper on November…