City of Roses or Rose City (Portland nickname)
Portland is called the "Rose City" or "City of Roses" largely because of the efforts (currently unrecognized) of attorney, historian and amateur rosegrower Frederick V. Holman…
Archive for 06/2012
“Keep Portland Weird”
"Keep Portland Weird" is a popular bumper sticker and an unofficial slogan of the city of Portland. The idea was borrowed from "Keep Austin Weird," an Austin, Texas, initiative…
“Pain is temporary, pride is forever” (sports and exercise adage)
"Pain is temporary, pride is forever" is a popular sports and exercise adage that has been printed on many T-shirts. "Pain is temporary, success is permanent" was a message hung…
“Stay thirsty”
In February 2007, Dos Equis (a beer company) introduced its "Most Interesting Man in the World" ad campaign with the trademarked catchphrase, "Stay thirsty, my friends." The…
“Stay hungry”
"Stay hungry" doesn't mean that one should literally stay hungry and starve, but that one shouldn't get fat, lazy and complacent. In 1954, sportswriters wondered how…
“What disease did ‘cured ham’ actually have?” (joke)
"What disease did 'cured ham' actually have?" is a one-liner listed in many joke collections. A ham is "cured" with salt and nitrates to prevent the growth of…
“Bomb hills, not countries” (skateboarding adage)
"Bomb hills, not countries" is the slogan that the Sector 9 company put on its skateboards. The slogan has not been copyrighted and is also used in longboarding. "Bomb hills, not…
“Strawberry shortcake, banana split, we think your team plays like—” (sports cheer)
"Strawberry shortcake, banana split, we think your team plays like -- " is a popular cheer, cited in print since at least September 2000. An innocent continuation usually is,…
“If you want to come in second…follow me!” (running aphorism)
"If you want to come in second... follow me!" is a popular running aphorism printed on the back of many T-shirts. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2004. Cool Running…
“The faster you run, the faster you’re done” (running adage)
'The faster you run, the faster/sooner you're done" is a cross country saying that has been printed on T-shirts. "The faster you run, the sooner you're done" has been…
“Four wheels carry the body; two wheels move the soul” (motorcycle aphorism)
"Four wheels carry the body; two wheels move the soul" is a popular motorcycle saying that has been printed on many gift items such as posters and T-shirts. The saying has been cited in…
Bureauweenie (bureaucrat + weenie)
A "bureauweenie" (bureaucrat + weenie) is an unflattering name for a bureaucrat, with "weenie" meaning someone who is weak and unimportant. The term is usually given in plural…
“Red equals green” or “Red means green” (professional wrestling adage)
"Red equals green" (or "red means green") is a professional wrestling adage meaning that blood ("red") attracts professional wrestling fans and makes money…
“There is no such thing as overtraining, only undereating” (bodybuilding adage)
"There is no such thing as overtraining, only undereating" is a famous bodybuilding adage that has been attributed to several people. The saying appears in The Gold's Gym Book of…
“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there”
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there" is a saying popularized by college basketball coach John Wooden (1910-2010) in his book, They Call Me Coach…
“The longest distance in any race is the six inches between your ears”
"The longest distance in any race is the six inches between your ears" is a popular saying of marathoners and triathletes, indicating how important mental training is as well as physical…
“It’s just a hill—get over it!” (running and cycling aphorism)
When there's a problem, one is often told to "get over it." Runners and cyclists usually have problems with hills. The saying "It's (just/only) a hill -- get over it!"…
“Pain is weakness leaving the body” (exercise adage)
"Pain is (just/only) weakness leaving the body" is a popular exercise adage seen on items such as posters and T-shirts at many gyms. The saying has been popular in the U.S. Marine Corps…
“Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret” (exercise adage)
"Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret" is a popular exercise adage that has been printed on posters. Working out makes one suffer the "pain of discipline"…
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong gear” (running adage)
"There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong gear" is a runner's adage, showing that runs can be made in any weather. English art critic John Ruskin (1819-1900) said in…