Archive for 09/2013

“Tidy desk, tidy mind”

"Tidy desk. tidy mind" is a popular saying, though not always an accurate one. "A tidy desk, he said, meant a tidy mind" was cited in print in 1948. A similar saying is “If a…

“Tidy room, tidy mind”

"Tidy (bed)room. tidy mind” is a popular saying, though not always an accurate one. "A tidy room is the key to a tidy mind" was cited in print in 1982. A similar saying is “If a…

Octaper (October + taper)

The stock market had all eyes on the Federal Reserve in 2013, speculating when its quantitative easing program -- involving as much as $85 billion a month -- would lessen or "taper." The…

N-ICE (NYSE + ICE)

The IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) arranged to buy the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in December 2012. The blog Zero Hedge wrote on December 20, 2012, "N-ICE N-ICE Baby: ICE Buys NYSE For…

“Coffee is not my cup of tea”

Someone's "cup of tea" (what someone likes or prefers) has been an idiom since at least the 1920s. "Coffee is not my cup of tea" is a jocular one-line saying that has been…

“Tea is a cup of life”

"Tea is a cup of life" is a popular aphorism. Quiet Moments and a Cup of Tea: Charming Stories to Grace Your Day (2001) by Alice Gray contained the saying and credited an author:…

“Tea is liquid wisdom”

"Tea is liquid wisdom" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, tea cups and tea boxes. "Tea is liquid wisdom" has been cited in print since at…

“Isn’t Texas cute?” (Alaskan T-shirt)

"Isn't Texas cute?" is a popular T-shirt; the outline of Alaska is shown, with the state of Texas fit inside it (clearly showing which state is larger). The shirt has been printed…

Uplift Town (McLean nickname)

The Texas town of McLean had a bra factory in the first half of the 29th century. McLean was humorously nicknamed "The Uplift Town" on a sign, and also went by the nicknames of…

Reverse Showrooming

"Showrooming" occurs when someone browses a brick and mortar "showroom" store for a product (such as a book or electronics), but then buys it online (where it can often be…

Hammunition (ham + ammunition)

"Hammunition" (ham + ammunition) was the "Fake Word of the Day" on the blog Dougtionary in 2008, where it meant "food thrown in a food fight." In 2013, the company…