“Chess is life” (Bobby Fischer)
New York City grandmaster Robert "Bobby" Fischer (1943-2008) defeated champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in the 1972 World Chess Championship. In July 1972, Spassky was credited…
Archive for 03/2012
Hoffman House (cocktail)
The Hoffman House Hotel (located near Madison Square Park at Broadway and Twenty-second Street) had a celebrated bar in the 1880s and 1890s; the structure was destroyed in 1915 (just before…
Grievance Theater
"Grievance theater" is when someone files a grievance (and gets lots of media publicity, like a "theater" performance) of something that allegedly grieved a person's sex,…
Starbugs (Starbucks nickname)
Starbucks Coffee Company is a coffeehouse chain that began in Seattle, Washington in 1971. There are many Starbucks outlets in New York City, especially in Manhattan. The Starbucks nickname of…
“It’s always better to sacrifice your opponent’s pieces” (chess adage)
"It's always better to sacrifice your opponent's pieces/men" is a chess adage that is usually credited to the chess grandmaster and journalist Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956).…
“No game was ever won by resigning” (chess adage)
"No game was ever won by resigning" (or, "You can't win by resigning") is a chess adage that is usually credited to the chess grandmaster and journalist Savielly Tartakower…
“Football always has been reflective of modern life — violence punctuated by committee meetings”
"Football—spasms of violence separated by committee meetings—is the game of our time," wrote syndicated columnist and author George F. Will in a newspaper column on October 4, 1974.…
“Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in men”
"Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in men" has been credited to David Sarnoff (1891-1971), the longtime head of the Radio Corporation of America, since at least…
Love Train (L subway line)
The "L" subway line (14th Street -- Canarsie Local) has been dubbed the "Love Train," after the 1972 song by The O'Jays. A Craigslist survey of its "Missed…
“There is nothing wrong with sex on television as long as you don’t fall off”
"Sex on television can't hurt you unless you fall off" is an old joke, told before the invention of flat screens. The joke has been cited in print since at least season one, episode…
“Coffee makes it possible to get out of bed, but chocolate makes it worthwhile”
"Coffee makes it possible to get out of bed, but chocolate makes it worthwhile" is a food saying that has been put on several gift items. The saying has been cited in print since at least…
“A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work”
"A bad day (of) fishing is better than a good day of work" has been put on gift items (such as bumper stickers, T-shirts and signs) since at least 1986. "A bad day fishing is better…
Lunacracy (lunatics/lunacy + democracy)
"Lunacracy" (lunatics/lunacy + democracy) is an infrequently used term for a loony (or crazy) democracy, run by "lunacrats." The term "lunacracy" was used in the title…
“Serving humanity simply by showing up”
"Serving humanity simply by showing up" is a catchphrase of conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh has used the line since at least 1993. Wikipedia: Rush LimbaughRush…
Bureaucrazy (bureaucracy + crazy)
"Bureaucrazy" (bureaucracy + crazy) has been used when people feel that government red tape is overwhelming, creating a bureaucracy-crazy environment. The word "bureaucrazy" has…
“The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it” (chess adage)
"The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it" is a chess adage, cited in print since at least 1945. The adage is usually credited to champion chess player Wilhelm Steinitz…
“Pile it high and watch it fly” (merchandising adage)
"Pile/Stack it/them/'em high, sell it/them/'em cheap" was a motto of Jack Cohen (1898-1979), a British businessman who founded the Tesco supermarket chain. "Pile 'em…
“If you see a good move, look for a better one” (chess adage)
"If you see a good move, look for a better one" is a chess adage meaning that one should study the position and not jump at the first good thought. The saying has also been used in…
“A knight on the rim is dim” (chess adage)
"A knight on the rim is dim/grim" (or "knights on the rim are dim/grim") is a chess adage meaning that a knight on the edge of the chessboard has less mobility. Knights are more…
Specuvestor (speculator + investor)
The term "specuvestor" (speculator + investor) was coined by Lewis Owen's book, How Wall Street Doubles My Money Every Three Years (1969). An advertisement for the book explained,…