“There goes the neighborhood”
"There goes the neighborhood!" refers to someone (or some business) entering the neighborhood and changing its character. The saying dates to at least 1964 and was a response to racially…
Archive for 07/2013
Shiti Bike (Citi Bike nickname)
New York City's "Citi Bike" program was launched on May 27, 2013. The program was named and funded (in large part) by Citigroup, which paid $41 million for a six-year sponsorship.…
Northwest East Village
The East Village, in Manhattan, is east of Greenwich Village. The boundaries are usually between 14th Street on the north, the FDR Drive or East River on the east, Houston Street on the south, and…
Gastrobar
The term "gastropub" was popularized in London in the early 1990s. A "gastrobar (or "gastro bar") is, essentially, the same thing as a "gastropub" -- a drinking…
Stalingrad & Poorski (Standard & Poor’s nickname)
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) is one of the “big three” credit-rating agencies, along with Moody’s and Fitch. The financial blog Zero Hedge gave the company a Soviet-style nickname in a…
“It’s never too early to change the oil” (automotive adage)
"As the old saying goes, it’s never too early to change oil.....and in general it’s pretty cheap" was cited on a forum message board in July 2013. It's not known where this…
“What follows two days of rain in Oregon? Monday!” (joke)
"What follows two days of rain in Oregon? Monday!" is a joke that has been told about many geographical locations. ""What comes after two days of rain in Vermont?" was…
“Execute justice, not people”
"Execute justice, not people" is a popular slogan used by people who are against the death penalty. The slogan is often printed on a sign for a protest made at a courthouse or a prison.…
Checkpoint to the Stars (Sierra Blanca border patrol checkpoint nickname)
The border patrol checkpoint at Sierra Blanca, Texas, has been dubbed "checkpoint to the stars" because of the many stars that have been arrested there. People such as singer/songwriter…
“All men are created equal, and then a few become firefighters”
"All men are created equal, and then a few become firefighters" is a saying that has been printed on several gift items, such as T-shirts and bumper stickers. U.S. Vice President Joe…
“A late train gets later” (transportation adage)
"A late train (only/usually/just) gets later" is an old transportation adage. "A late train gets later" was cited in print in 1922, where it was listed in a newspaper column of…
“In Washington, the scandal isn’t what’s illegal; the scandal is what’s legal”
"The scandal isn't what's illegal, the scandal is what's legal" has long been associated with American political journalist Michael Kinsley. "The scandal isn't…
New York with Palm Trees (Miami nickname)
Miami Beach has had so many visitors and residents from New York City that it was called "New York with palm trees." "Miami, eh? The playground of the rich and the lazy, little old…
“The further north you go, the further south you get” (Florida adage)
"The farther/further north you go, the farther/further south(ern) you get" is one of the most popular adages about Florida. Northerners seek the beaches of south Florida, so northern…
McDiving (McDonald’s + diving)
"McDiving" (McDonald's + diving) occurs when someone dives over the counter at a McDonald's fast food restaurant -- and usually has the video to prove it. "Mcdiving…
“If it makes dollars, it makes sense” (boxing adage)
"If it makes dollars, it makes sense" was cited in June 2000 in a penny stock forum. The saying is usually associated with the boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who said in June 2004 about a…
“Two can eat as cheaply as one”
The saying "two can live as cheaply as one" has been cited in print since at least the 1890s. "Two can eat as cheaply as one" has been cited in print since at least 1927.…
“You can’t walk your way off the island” (Dominican baseball adage)
Dominican baseball players have been known as free swingers who don't take walks. Dominican-born shortstop Rafael Ramirez explained in 1986: "You have to swing like a man. A walk…
“The introduction of religious passion into politics is the end of honest politics”
Baron Quintin Hogg Hailsham of St Marylebone (1907-2001) wrote in The Conservative Case (1959): "The introduction of religious passion into politics is the end of honest politics, and the…
Malnegligence (malice + negligence)
"Malnegligence" (malice + negligence) suggests that an act was either intentionally malicious or an act of negligence -- or some combination of the two. Ace of Spades HQ reported on July…