“Gun control is not about guns—it’s about control”
"Gun control is not about guns -- it's about control" is a popular anti-gun control saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying has been cited in print since at least…
Archive for 08/2012
“I had to prove I was a citizen of New York, so I stabbed him” (joke)
New York City has a reputation as a violent place (or at least it had that reputation in the 1970s and 1980s). The comedian Emo Phillips told this joke on his album, E=MO² (1985): "New…
“Fresh pork and new wine kill a man before his time”
"Fresh pork and new wine kill a man before his time" is an old Spanish proverb; the pork can be cured and the wine can be aged to provide a better meal. The original Spanish proverb (with…
“If at first you don’t succeed, redefine success”
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is a popular American poem verse from the 1830s. The verse has many joke endings that replace "try, try again." "If at…
“A ship does not sail with yesterday’s wind” (political proverb)
Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan accepted the Republican National Convention's nomination for vice president in August 2012, pointing out failures of the incumbent Democratic administration…
Beer-b-que or Brew-b-que (beer/brew + bar-b-que)
A "beer-b-que" or "brew-b-que" (beer/brew + bar-b-que) is an event of barbecue/barbeque and beer. "Beer-B-Q" has been cited in print since at least 1959 and…
Mommy’s Sippy Cup (a wine glass)
"Mommy's sippy cup" is a cute saying that has been printed on various drinking objects since at least 2007. "Mommy's sippy cup" is usually a wine glass or a goblet,…
“An athlete dies twice” (sports proverb)
"An athlete dies twice" is a popular sports adage; the first "death" is the end of a playing career. The saying has been credited to Roger Kahn, who wrote in The Boys of Summer…
“You don’t buy beer, you just rent it”
"You don't buy beer (here), you just/only rent it" is a popular piece of graffiti that has appeared on many bathroom walls -- especially in bar bathrooms. The graffiti has been cited…
“Time is never wasted when you’re wasted all the time”
"Time is never wasted when you're wasted all the time" is a drinking saying that appears in many quotation collections. The saying has been attributed to Catherine Zandonella since…
“Why do they put Braille dots on the keypad of the drive-up ATM?”
"Why do they put Braille dots on the keypad of the drive-up ATM?" is a question (cited in print since at least April 1994) that has made many lists of humorous questions. The answer is…
“The dog ate my homework” (student excuse)
"The dog ate my homework" is the classic lame excuse that a student makes to a teacher to cover for missing homework. It's not known what student first made the excuse. "The dog…
Piled Higher and Deeper (“Ph.D.” backronym)
The college degrees of B.S., M.S., Ph.D. and M.D. are jokingly said to stand for "bullshit," "more shit" (or "more of the same"), "piled higher and deeper"…
“No one buys a ticket to see an owner” (sports adage)
"No one buys a ticket (or tunes in to a game) to see an owner" is a sports adage that means the fans want to watch the players, not the owners. The owner of a team might get a lot of…
Brain Trust
A "trust" is a combination of companies by legal agreement; examples from the late 1800s include the oil trust and the sugar trust. The earliest example of a "brain trust" is…
“The regular season is where you make your name, but the postseason is where you make your fame”
"Frazier always said, 'In the regular season, you make your name, but the in the playoffs you make your fame,'" said New York City-born basketball player Kenny Smith in May…
“Acknowledge the corn” (to confess or acknowledge a charge)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: acknowledge the cornEtymologyBy folk tale, attributed to an instance of a man who stole several horses and the corn to feed them but in court only admitted to…
“If at first you don’t succeed, you’re running about average”
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is a popular American poem verse from the 1830s. The verse has many joke endings that replace "try, try again." "If at…
“If nothing sticks to Teflon, how does Teflon stick to the pan?”
"If nothing sticks to Teflon, how does Teflon stick to the pan?" is a standard joke on many Internet websites. "How do they make Teflon stick to the pan?" has been cited in…
“Give away the store” (conceding too much in a transaction)
To "give away the store" is to give away a substantial amount in a transaction. For example, a sports team desperate to acquire a superstar player might "give away the store" in…