“Feet first, stick second” (lacrosse adage)
"Feet first, stick second" is one of several lacrosse rules for playing defense. The most important thing on defense is to be in position (with the feet), and only then can a player…
Archive for 05/2012
“Old frisbee players never die—they just end up on the roof”
"Old soldiers never die -- they just fade away” is an old saying that was popularized by General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) in his farewell address to Congress on April 19, 1951. Many…
“Plan your dive and dive your plan” (scuba diving adage)
"Plan your dive and dive your plan" is a popular diving adage, cited in print since at least 1970. A carefully planned dive that is dived according to that plan can be a successful dive.…
“Strike for show and spare for dough” (bowling adage)
"Strike for show and spare for dough" is a popular bowling adage, cited in print from at least 1987 and 1996. The saying means that most people don't always bowl all strikes and have…
“Drive for show and putt for dough” (golf adage)
"Drive for show and putt for dough" is a popular rhyming golf adage, but the saying has had many non-rhyming forms. "We drive for pleasure, but we putt for money" was said by…
“You’re only as good as your second serve” (tennis adage)
"You're only as good as your second serve" is a popular tennis adage. There are two chances for a player to get a serve into the proper court; a player often tries a hard serve the…
“Pace makes the race” (horse racing adage)
"Pace makes the race" is a frequently used horse racing adage. A fast pace might help some horses, while a slower pace might help other kinds of horses. The saying "pace makes the…
Government Motors (General Motors or GM nickname)
General Motors (GM) is an automotive company headquartered in Detroit; New York City's General Motors Building is at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan. In 2009, GM filed for Chapter 11…
“Don’t compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative”
"Don’t compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative" is a political saying meaning that no candidate is perfect (like the Almighty), but he or she -- however flawed --…
“Buckle up your guts”
Alan K. Simpson, a Wyoming U.S. senator from 1979-1997, co-chaired President Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform with Erskine Bowles (leading to the more familiar…
“There are three good reasons to be a teacher: June, July and August”
"There are three good reasons to be a teacher: June, July and August" is an old joke about the teaching profession, perhaps outdated for teachers who work in June. "Three good…
“If you want it bad, you will get it bad”
"If you want it bad, you (will) get it bad" means that if you want something "bad" (quickly) without the time to do it right, you will get it "bad" (poorly done). The…
Gentleman’s C
The grade of "C" is often seen as a middling grade, earned by someone who gets by but does not excel. The term "gentleman's mark" for the grade "C" has been cited…
Grexit (Greece/Greek + exit)
"Grexit" (Greece/Greek + exit) is a word created to define a possible Greek exit from the eurozone. The term was coined in February 2012 by Citigroup economists Willem Buiter and Ebrahim…
“You are your child’s first teacher”
"You are your child's first teacher" is a saying that emphasizes the parents' role in education. The saying was popularized as the title of a bestselling book, You Are Your…
Czechxas (Czech + Texas)
Texas has long had a heritage of Czech immigrants. Foods, such as the kolache, are part of the Czech legacy in the state. The name "Czechxas" (Czech + Texas) has been put on T-shirts and…
Pay Every Penny to Save Israel (false Pepsi etymology)
Pepsi is a cola company that was formed in 1898; the product was named "Pepsi-Cola" in 1903. The name "Pepsi" comes from the digestive enzyme "pepsin." In 2000,…
Yes Man
A "yes-man" (or "yes man") is someone who always agrees with a boss and simply follows orders. The term was popularized by Freeman Tilden (1883-1980), who wrote "The…
Newsweak (Newsweek nickname)
Newsweek is a weekly news magazine that began in 1933 and is located in New York City. In November 2010, Newsweek merged with the website The Daily Beast. The obvious Newsweek nickname of Newsweek…
Lapdog Media and Watchdog Media
"Watchdog" media monitor the practices of business and government; "lapdog" media are servile and unquestioning of business and government. "Watchdog media" has been…