“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon”
"Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. "The sky's the limit" is an…
Archive for 02/2014
“What did Bacon say to Tomato?”/“Lettuce get together.”
The BLT sandwich contains bacon, lettuce and tomato, leading to a popular joke: "What did Bacon say to Tomato?""Lettuce get together." The joke has been cited in print since at…
“Never hold an inquiry unless you know what the outcome will be”
"Never hold an inquiry unless you know what the outcome will be" is a popular political philosophy in Australia. "Never hold an inquiry unless you know the outcome" was cited in…
Tin-pot Dictator (Tin-pot Dictatorship)
A "tin-pot dictator" is someone who is cheap or commonplace, with little political credibility. Tin pots came to symbolize in the 19th century something that is cheap and without much…
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why”
"The two most important days in ypur life are the day you are/were born and the day you find/found out why" is a popular saying that is frequently credited to American writer Mark Twain…
“A photon checks into a hotel…” (joke)
The following science joke involving photons has been very popular: "A photon checks into a hotel. A bell hop asks him if he needs any help with his luggage. The photon says, 'No, thanks.…
Billionaire Beanstalk (luxury skyscraper)
Justin Davidson of New York magazine coined "billionaire beanstalk" (luxury skyscraper) in an architecture review on September 15, 2013: "In theory, developers of these…
Super Tower (Supertower)
"Supertower" (or "super tower") is another term for a "skyscraper." The term "supertower" was seldom used before 1990, when the NEC Supertower opened in…
“Nothing says love like something you made”
"Nothing says love/lovin' like something you made/make yourself" is a popular sentiment on Valentine's Day. Something that someone does especially for another person is often…
Stupid Bowl (stupid + Super Bowl)
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League. The first Super Bowl was held in Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 1967; the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas…
Superscraper (super + skyscraper)
"Superscraper" (super + skyscraper) is an infrequently used term for a "super" skyscraper. "Superscraper" was cited in print in 1962 (when it referred to New York…
Strike City
New York City was called "Strike City, U.S.A." in October 1968 because of so many municipal strikes. The nickname "Strike City was influenced by Mayor John Lindsay's "Fun…
Value Investing (Value Investor)
"Value investing" is the investment theory where a "value investor" seeks to buy a security that is undervalued at its current market price. Benjamin Graham (1894-1976) and…
“How do you fix a broken pizza?”/“Tomato paste.”
A popular pizza joke is: "How do you fix a broken pizza?""Use tomato paste!" The joke has been cited in print since at least 1993. Google BooksSilly School JokesBy Gary Perkins…
“Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare”
"Vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare" is a business saying that has been printed on many images. "Vision without action is a dream" was…
Invisible Fist (invisible hand + fist)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Invisible handIn economics, the invisible hand of the market is a metaphor conceived by Adam Smith to describe the self-regulating behavior of the marketplace.…
“Ten percent of the fishermen catch ninety percent of the fish” (fishing adage)
"Ten percent of the fishermen catch ninety percent of the fish" is a fishing adage of uncertain origin. "Surveys made by biologists show that ten percent of the fishermen catch…
“Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional”
"Pain is inevitable, suffering/misery is optional" is an inspirational proverb that has been printed on many posters. M. Kathleen Casey (or Kathleen Casey Theisen) is often credited with…
“Too close to call”
A political election is "too close to call" when it's not certain who will win. Marty Plessner (1926-2014), a political director at CBS News, said that CBS coined "too close to…
Feel-Good Story
A "feel-good story" (or "feel good story") is a story that makes the reader/listener/viewer feel good about themselves and the world -- a break from the pattern of depressing…