“Lightning never strikes twice in the same place”
"Lightning never strikes twice in the same place" is more a statement of mathematical odds than one of scientific certainty. There are many exceptions to the rule. For example, lightning…
Archive for 05/2015
“You can’t fire 25 players, so you fire the manager”
What's a losing sports team to do? "You can't fire 25 players, so you fire the manager," a popular theory holds. "But when a club isn't winning it is always easy to…
“You can’t fire me—I quit!”
"You can't fire me -- I quit!" is what an employee often says to a boss, either immediately before a potential firing or after an actual firing. The expression became popular in the…
Tax Donkey (Tax Mule)
A "tax donkey" or "tax mule" is the average taxpayer, who works to support a government and gets very little back in the form of any representation or benefits. Charles Hugh…
“You’re never more than two weeks away from a drought”
"You're never more than two weeks away from a drought" is an adage used in many parts of the United States. "We are never more than two weeks away from a drought in this area…
“Hitting is contagious” (baseball adage)
"Hitting is contagious" is an old baseball adage that has been cited in print since 1907, but appears to have become popular in the 1930s. When one or two members of the team start…
“Ice skating is just walking in cursive”
"Ice skating is just walking in cursive" is a jocular one-line saying that was cited on reddit on December 3, 2014. The line has been popular on Twitter. redditIce skating is just walking…
“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest”
"When you're in, you're a guest; when you're out, you're a pest" is a popular police saying that may have originated with the New York Police Department. An officer in…
“What kind of cup can’t hold water?”/“A cupcake.”
A popular food riddle is: Q: What kind of cup can't hold water?A: A cupcake. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2008. Google Books Ha! Ha! Ha! and Much More: The Ultimate Round-up…
Mausoleum (Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum nickname)
The New York Islanders hockey team played at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum from 1972 to 2015; the New York Nets basketball team played there from 1972 to 1977. In the fall of 2015, both…
Cinco de Drinko (Cinco de Mayo + drink)
"Cinco de Drinko" (Cinco de Mayo + drink) is a jocular term that reflects how the Mexican holiday on the fifth of May has been turned into a drinking holiday in the United States.…
Ewing Theory
The "Ewing Theory" is named after New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing. Although Ewing went down with injury in the 1999 Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks won without him and reached…
“Great wines are made in the vineyard” (wine adage)
"Great wines are made in the vineyard (and not the cellar)" is a wine proverb of unknown origin. "The Australian wine drinker is coming to realise that great wines are made in the…
“Before you judge someone, walk a mile in his shoes”
"Before you judge someone, walk a mile in his/her shoes" is a saying that means one should consider another's situation before applying criticism. According to the website…
“If you can walk, you can dance” (dance adage)
Entry in progress -- B.P. "If you can talk, you can sing" is a similar expression. OCLC WorldCat recordIf You Can Walk: You Can Dance!Author: Drayton E MarshEdition/Format: Article…
“If your name is on the building, you’re rich”
American comedian Rich Hall said on the television show Late Night with Conan O'Brien on July 17, 1995: "When you go to work in the morning, if your name is on the building -- you're…
“I’m drinking 2% milk, wondering what the other 98% is”
"2% milk" refers to the fat content of the milk, but there's a popular joke: "If it's 2% milk, what's the other 98%?" "I always wondered if it was 2% milk,…
“Be honest, you haven’t even walked a mile in your own shoes”
"Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes" is an old proverb. "Be honest, you haven't even walked a mile in your own shoes" was printed on an ecard…
“If you can talk, you can sing” (music adage)
Entry in progress -- B.P. "If you can walk, you can dance" is a similar expression. OCLC WorldCat recordIf you can talk, you can sing : cantata : scored for students' voices, claves,…
“Hunting is easier for vegans because it’s easier to sneak up on plants”
"Hunting is easier for vegans because it's easier to sneak up on plants" is a jocular saying that became popular in December 2014. The website I Can Has Cheezburger? illustrated the…