“Politics is downstream from culture”
"Politics is downstream from/of (the) culture" means that the culture comes first and then the laws, not the other way around. Laws against slavery, for example, must be preceded by…
Archive for 01/2013
Conned-sumer (conned + consumer)
"Conned-sumer" of "connedsumer" (conned + consumer) is a term used to describe a consumer who is being conned by a seller. The term was coined in the title of the book The…
OpEx (Operational Expenditure)
"OpEx" (also "OPEX" and "opex") stands for "operational expenditure" or "operational expense" or "operating expenditure" or…
CapEx (Capital Expenditure)
"CapEx" (also "CAPEX" or "capex") stands for "capital expenditure" or "capital expense." "OpEx" (also "OPEX" and…
Liestrong (Livestrong nickname)
Livestrong is the Austin, Texas-based cancer awareness charity that was founded in 1997 by cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. Armstrong -- winner of the Tour de France seven consecutive…
“Pinch an inch” (“pinch test” fat measure)
The "pinch test" (popularly called by the rhyme "pinch an inch") is simply a pinch of flesh -- usually performed at the waist -- between the thumb and forefinger. If someone can…
“The party always ends up in the kitchen”
"The party always ends up in the kitchen" is an old adage that suggests that good entertaining often involves food and drink. "I wonder why good parties always end up in the…
“Icing on the cake”
"The icing on the cake" means something great adding on to something that is already good (such as the cake). The expression "icing on the cake" can also refer to something…
Froyo (frozen yogurt)
"Froyo" (frozen yogurt) is a brand name that has become a generic name. Froyo machines operated in drive-ins in March 1977; Froyo was sold in supermarkets by at least October 1977. In the…
Barstro (bar + bistro)
When Bar Artisanal opened in Tribeca (268 West Broadway, between Avenue Of The Americas & Lispenard Street) in 2009, owner Terrance Brennan remarked that it was a "barstro" -- a cross…
“Problem with banker jokes - bankers don’t think they’re funny and others don’t think they’re jokes”
A joke is told about lawyer jokes: "The trouble with lawyer jokes is that lawyers don't think they're funny, and nobody else thinks they're jokes." This joke about lawyer…
SOS (sauce on the side)
"SOS" is a famous distress signal. In restaurant lingo, "SOS" means "sauce on the side" -- that is, sauce on the side of the plate and not directly on top of the food.…
PMS Pizza (pepperoni, mushrooms and sausage)
"PMS" usually stands for premenstrual syndrome. In pizza shop lingo, a "PMS" pizza contains pepperoni, mushrooms and sausage. The name "PMS" for this pizza has been…
Brooklyn Blackout (ice cream)
Steve's Ice Cream of Brooklyn introduced a flavor in 2011 called "Bklyn Blackout." The ice cream --an homage to Brooklyn's famous blackout cake -- is described as "Milk…
“Too big to prosecute”
The philosophy of "too big to prosecute" means that some organizations are too important to the economy to completely dismantle. Although "too big to prosecute" has been cited…
“Problem with lawyer jokes - lawyers don’t think they’re funny and others don’t think they’re jokes”
A joke is told about lawyer jokes: "The trouble with lawyer jokes is that lawyers don't think they're funny, and nobody else thinks they're jokes." This joke about lawyer…
“No peacocks, no jerks, no whiners”
President Barack Obama nominated Jack Lew for Treasury secretary and made a few comments on his current Treasure secretary, Tim Geithner, on January 10, 2013: "On a personal note, Tim has been…
Tasty Tuesday
"Tasty Tuesday" is an eating/drinking slang name for a day of the week. Food and/or alcoholic drinks are sold on this day, often at a reduced price. “Tasty Tuesday” has been cited in…
Tanked Tuesday
"Tanked Tuesday" is a drinking slang name for a day of the week. Alcoholic drinks are sold on this day, often at a reduced price. “Tanked Tuesday” has been cited in print since at…