“Even Popeye didn’t eat his spinach until he absolutely had to”
"Even Popeye didn't eat his spinach until he absolutely had to" is a humorous saying that has been printed on gift items, such as T-shirts and bumper stickers. The cartoon character…
Archive for 07/2012
“He who has a thing to sell and goes and whispers in a well…”
The Outlook of September 20, 1902, described this stanza that appeared in a New York advertising journal (probably Printers' Ink): "The man who has a thing to sell, And goes and whispers…
Glory Hole
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Glory holeGlory hole may refer to: . Glory hole, surface depression produced by block caving in underground mining. Glory hole (petroleum production), a type of…
Spokes-liar (spokesman/spokesperson + liar)
"Spokes-liar" or "spokesliar" (spokesman/spokesperson + liar) is a term used by those who believe that a spokesperson is making nonsensical, overly subservient points. The…
Spokes-hack (spokesman/spokesperson + hack)
"Spokes-hack" or "spokeshack" (spokesman/spokesperson + hack) is a term used by those who believe that a spokesperson is making nonsensical, overly subservient points. The…
Spokeshole (spokesman/spokesperson + asshole)
"Spokeshole" or "spokes-hole" (spokesman/spokesperson + asshole) is a term used by those who believe that a spokesperson is making nonsensical, overly subservient points. The…
Department of Social Justice (Department of Justice nickname)
The United States Department of Justice is led by the Attorney General and is responsible for law enforcement and the administration of justice. President Barack Obama's Attorney General Eric…
“Never marry for money—you can borrow it cheaper”
"Never/Don't marry for money -- you can borrow it cheaper" is a joke that's frequently said to be a Scottish proverb (phrased "ye'll borrow it cheaper"). The…
“Don’t be irreplaceable; if you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted”
"Don't be irreplaceable; if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted" is a popular saying on many websites that list office proverbs and jokes. "Don't be…
“Be careful about reading health books—you may die of a misprint”
"Be careful about reading health books -- you may die of a misprint" has been credited since the 1970s to the American writer Mark Twain (1835-1910), but there's no evidence that…
“He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman…”
"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist" is a saying that…
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but an onion a day keeps everybody away”
An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is a proverb from the second half of the 19th century illustrating that apples make one healthy ("keeps the doctor away"). Many things can…
“No cheering in the press box” (sports journalism adage)
New York (NY) Times sportswriter Arthur Daley wrote in September 1950: "Perhaps there is something to the ancient but stern admonition: 'No cheering in the press box, please.'"…
“There are no new stories, only new reporters” (journalism adage)
"There is nothing new under the sun" is from Ecclesiastes 1:9 of the Bible. By at least 1900, it was said that "there are no new stories under the sun." Each story is similar to…
“Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now”
"Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now" is a popular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters and T-shirts. The Blondie comic strip, on July 2,…
“Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening’—and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t”
Television's evening news is usually filled with bad news, such as murders, fires, wars and natural disasters. "The evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening' -- and…
Spokes-tool (spokesman/spokesperson + tool)
"Spokes-tool" or "spokestool" (spokesman/spokesperson + tool) is a term used by those who believe that a spokesperson is making nonsensical, overly subservient points. The…
Man Aisle (store aisle of products men shop for)
Westside Market NYC launched a "man aisle" in July 2012 -- an aisle filled with products that men frequently use, just like stores have baby aisles. Items in the "man aisle"…
“A ton of money” (a large amount of money)
"A ton of money" means a lot of money. A "ton" metaphorically means any large amount; a physical ton of dollars is worth $908,000 and a physical ton of pennies is worth $3,632.…
“Everything’s chicken but the gravy”
"Everything's chicken but the gravy (and that's chicken gravy)" is an infrequently used saying that has been cited in print since at least 1945, when it was included in the…