Girl Friday (Gal Friday)
A "man Friday" is an assistant who does all kinds of work. The term is from the character of "Friday" in Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe. "Girl Friday"…
Archive for 04/2015
Guy Friday (Man Friday)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Friday (fictional character)Friday is one of the main characters of Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe. Robinson Crusoe names the man, with whom he…
“On economics tests, the questions are the same every year—only the answers change”
One popular economics joke has an old graduate return to college after many years. He sees his old economics professor, looks at a recent test, and is shocked that the questions are still the same.…
“The exam questions are the same every year—only the answers change” (joke)
One popular economics joke has an old graduate return to college after many years. He sees his old economics professor, looks at a recent test, and is shocked that the questions are still the same.…
“Play for the name on the front of the jersey, not on the back”
Player names are usually on the back of their uniforms; team names are usually on the front. "Play for the name on the front of the jersey, not on the back" is a saying that has been…
“Live simply so that others may simply live”
"Live simply so that others can/may/might simply live" is a saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying has been attributed to Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) and Mahatma…
“You never know what you’ll see when you come to the ballpark” (baseball adage)
"The old adage that 'you never know what you’ll see when you come to the ballpark' is absolutely true," a baseball writer said in 2015. It's not known how old this adage…
“Two men walk into a bar. The first orders H2O…” (bar joke)
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A popular science joke that has been printed on many images is: Two men walk into a bar.One…
“What’s the difference between a hunter and a fisherman?” (joke)
A popular joke tells the difference between hunters and fishermen: Q: What is the difference between a fisherman and a hunter?A: A hunter lies in wait and a fisherman waits and lies. The joke has…
“What runs around a baseball field, but never moves?”/“A fence.”
A popular baseball riddle is: Q. What runs around a baseball field, but never moves?A. A fence. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1990. However, this wasn't originally a riddle…
Noflation (no + deflation/inflation)
"Noflation" (no + deflation/inflation) is another term for "zero inflation." "Inflation or noflation?" was cited in print in 2007. "There appears to be…
“Good horses make good jockeys” (horse racing adage)
"Good horses make good jockeys" is an old horse racing adage of unknown authorship. "It is an old turf proverb that good horses make good jockeys" was cited in the New-York (NY)…
“Just because you beat the man, it doesn’t make you the man”
"Just because you beat the man it doesn't make you the man" is a saying in boxing. For example, Ken Norton defeated Muhammad Ali in 1973, but Ali was still "the man" -- the…
“Baptists don’t recognize each other at the liquor store” (joke)
A popular joke about religion is: "Jews don't recognize Jesus, Protestants don't recognize the Pope, and Baptists don't recognize one another in the liquor store." The joke…
Cruffin (croissant + muffin)
Mr Holmes Bakehouse, of San Francisco, California, opened in November 2014 and popularized the "cruffin" (croissant + muffin). National news stories about the "cruffin" were…
“You know you’re getting old when you hear your favorite song in an elevator”
New Yorkers spend a lot of time in elevators. A list of "Top 25 signs that you've already grown up" was distributed on the Internet in 1999, and one sign is: 5. You hear your…
“Positive anything is better than negative nothing”
"Positive anything is better than negative nothing" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many posters. American writer and philosopher Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) was…
“You must pay taxes. But there’s no law that says you gotta leave a tip”
Morgan Stanley (an American multinational financial services corporation) ran an advertisement in 2006 that featured a memorable line: "You must pay taxes. But there's no law that says…
“A tax loophole benefits the other guy; if it benefits you, it’s tax reform”
"One man's tax loophole is another man's vested right" is a popular saying in Washington, DC about tax reform. "One man's loophole is another man's equity"…
“The tax code is longer than the Bible, but without the good news”
The U.S. tax code is long. "The whole tax code, students say, is longer than the Bible, the Talmud and the Koran combined," Richard Strout wrote in the Christian Science Monitor in 1984.…