"You boys line up, alphabetically according to your height" is nonsensical sports coach-speak -- a player line rarely can be both alphabetical and also by height. Ed Diddle (1895-1970), a…
William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) was a writer of much-quoted inspirational maxims. In the book, Thoughts of a Christian Optimist; The words of William Arthur Ward (1968), Ward wrote: "A house…
"A harp is a (grand) piano after taxes" is a jocular statement that has been included in many collections of one-line sayings about taxes. The saying has also been printed on T-shirts.…
Duffy's Tavern was a radio show from 1941 to 1951. Ed Gardner (1901-1963, and born in Astoria, NY) created the comedy series and spoke many of its most memorable lines. A newspaper review of…
"He who hesitates is lost" is a proverb that dates back to at least the 18th and 19th centuries. The proverb has had several jocular anti-proverb endings. "When driving, is it…
Parking tickets are usually placed under a windshield wiper. "We're going to have to get rid of that windshield wiper on the car. I found another parking ticket in it today" was a…
"School is a building that has four walls -- with tomorrow inside" is a frequently cited one-line saying about school. "What is a School?" is a eulogy that was written by Dan…
"You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard" is a jocular saying that has been included in "Murphy's Laws" collections and a frequently…
"You can't get to the top by sitting on your bottom" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least 1954. The authorship of the saying is unknown. Google…
"A bad workman blames his tools" is an old proverb that has many variations. "If you can't dance, don't blame (it on) the (dance) floor" is a modern version of the…
"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" is a popular American sports proverb, cited in print since at least 1948. "Winning isn't everything, but losing…
"If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all" is advice given to the character Thumper in the Disney animated movie Bambi (1942). The proverbial saying is older…
"A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works" was written by Bill Vaughan (1915-1977), a columnist who specialized in aphorisms, in September…
Grantland Rice (1880-1954) wrote, "For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name; He marks -- not that you won or lost -- but how you played the Game." Many sports…
Republican 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney was shouted at by some reporters in July 2012, who asked, "What about your gaffes?" Salon magazine explained: “'What about your…
A professional "line waiter" receives money for waiting in line on behalf of someone else. A "line waiter" (who waits in line) is the same as a "queuer" (who waits in…
"Educashun" is a jocular spelling -- using eye dialect -- for the word "education." "Educashun" has been cited in print since at least 1848. The humorist "Josh…
"Educamation" is a jocular spelling for the word "education." "Educamation" has been cited in print since at least 1998 and does not appear to have any obvious author.…
"Edjamacation" is a jocular spelling for the word "education." "Edjamacation" has been cited in print since at least 1934, when it was spoken by the very popular…
The Financial Services Roundtable is a lobbying group for big banks. In September 2012, the Zero Hedge blog wrote that the Financial Services Roundtable is also known as the "TBTF…