Son Of a Bitch, Everything’s Real (“sober” backronym)
"S.O.B.E.R. = Son Of A Bitch, Everything's Real" was published in the book Stepping Stones to Recovery for Young People: Experience the Miracle of 12 Step Recovery (1991), edited by…
Archive for 06/2013
Flying Waiter (food delivery helicopter)
YO! Sushi (in the United Kingdom) introduced in June 2013 the iTray -- a quadcopter, controlled by an iPad, to deliver food to customers. The iTray was dubbed "The world's first flying…
United Stasi of America (“USA” backronym)
The East German Ministry for State Security (Stasi) was one of the world's most effective intelligence and police agencies; it spied on its own citizens as well as foreign enemies of the…
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (“Bible” backronym)
"Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" is a backronym (back acronym) for the word "BIBLE." The backronym has been cited in print since at least August 1992, when a jail…
“Democracy is not a spectator sport”
"Democracy is not a spectator sport" is a saying that is often used in politics to encourage people to participate, whether by voting, by donating money, or by other means. The saying was…
“DNT TXT N DRV” (bumper sticker)
"DNT TXT N DRV" ("Don't Text and Drive") is a safety saying that has been printed on many different items. The state of California created the "DNT TX N DRIVE"…
Coexist (bumper sticker)
The "COEXIST" image -- popularly seen on bumper stickers -- uses religious symbols to create the word "coexist." Piotr Mlodozeniec, a Polish graphic designer, created the…
Congresspuke (Congress + puke)
"Congresspuke" (Congress + puke) is a derogatory term for a member of Congress. "Congresspuke" has been cited in print since at least March 1992. Other derogatory terms for a…
“Minds are like parachutes—they only function when open”
"Minds are like parachutes -- they only function when open" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters and bumper stickers. The saying is often credited to…
“How’s my driving?” (bumper sticker)
Bumper stickers on many trucks state "How's My Driving?" and then give a phone number for other motorists to call and report poor drivers. "How's my driving" bumper…
Austerical (austerity + hysterical)
"Austerical" (austerity + hysterical) is a term used by those who criticize austerity measures. "How do the Austerical Auks expect the private sector to create jobs in a period when…
Lunch Break Rave
"Lunch break raves" started in Sweden in the fall of 2010. Instead of eating lunch at a desk, workers go to an hour-long dance party. The "lunch break rave" came to New York…
Lunch Break Rager
Flavorpill Media, along with Absolut Vodka, began "Lunch Break" parties in New York City in 2013. New York's workers spend the lunch hour at a dance party instead of at their desks.…
“A tavern is a place where madness is sold by the bottle”
"A tavern is a place where madness is sold by the bottle" is a saying that has been credited to Anglo-Irish satirist Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) since at least 1904, but there's no…
“Drink triple, see double, act single”
"Drink triple, see double, act single" has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, buttons and posters. "The big trouble with drink is that it makes too many people see…
“I can walk on water, but I stagger on alcohol”
"I can walk on water, but I stagger on alcohol" is a jocular saying that has been printed on T-shirts. To "walk on water" is to accomplish an impossible task; the miracle of…
“Friends don’t let friends drink light beer”
"Friends don't let friends drive drunk" is a popular service announcement that was started by the Ad Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (under the U.S.…
Stawk (stock)
"Stawk" is a spelling of "stock" that became popularly used on financial blogs, especially among the comments. "Blew chip stawks" was cited in print in June 2006 and…
Heroin Highway (Eighth Avenue; Long Island Expressway)
A "heroin highway" is any street where heroin is either transported or sold. Hastings Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, was called a "heroin highway" in 1955. The U.S.…
Readathon
A "readathon" (reading + marathon) is when there is a long session of reading; there may be many readers and there may be just one book (such as the Bible, a novel, a dictionary or…