Mediocre But Aggressive (“MBA” backronym)
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree doesn't always impress everyone and has been infrequently given the backronym (back acronym) of "Mediocre But Aggressive." The…
Archive for 09/2015
Paperati (paper + -ati)
"Paperari" is a portmanteau of "paper" and perhaps "literati," forming a word that resembles "paparazzi." The term comes from the precious metals blog…
Slamboni (Zamboni-like machine for U.S. Open tennis)
Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens, is the site of the tennis U.S. Open. Rain delays hampered the 2003 U.S. Open, so the stadium developed the "Slamboni" machine -- similar…
Journey Of the Broke (“job” backronym)
The word “job” is not an acronym for anything, but some have used the backronym (back acronym) of “journey of the broke.” The backronym has been applied to minimum wage and other low-paying…
“Chicken parm, you taste so good”
The famous Nationwide insurance jingle -- "Nationwide is on your side" -- was written by Bronx-born songwriter Steve Karmen in 1969. American football quarterback Peyton Manning did a…
Kiss Cam (camera showing fans kissing)
A "kiss cam" at sporting events is a camera that captures two fans (almost always a male and a female couple), who then kiss for the camera. The kiss is usually shown over a large stadium…
“Your tax dollars at work”
"Your tax dollars at work" is a popular sign at government construction projects. The saying is also used in irony, when tax money is being wasted. "You tax dollars at work"…
Vesey Squeezey or Vesey Squeezy (pedestrian traffic at Vesey Street)
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center affected nearby Vesey Street. PATH rail commuters created a crush of pedestrian traffic on Vesey Street each rush hour, in the…
Poor, Hungry and Driven (“Ph.D.” backronym)
"Poor, hungry and driven" is a jocular backronym (back acronym) for "Ph.D." Mario Gabelli, founder of Gabelli Asset Management Company Investors in Rye, New York, said in the…
Massive Bank Account (“MBA” backronym)
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree often comes with a higher salary than just a bachelor's. The MBA is sometimes given the jocular backronym (back acronym) of "Massive…
Residual Income Creates Happiness (“rich” backronym)
"Residual Income Creates Happiness” is sometimes given as a backronym (back acronym) for the word “rich.” "Remember residual income creates happiness (RICH)?" was cited in the…
Cereal Bar
Kith Treats of Prospect Heights opened in August 2015 and billed itself as "New York's first cereal bar." Customers could choose a breakfast cereal (or a combination of cereals) and…
Having Anger Towards Everyone Reaching Success (“haters” backronym)
"H.A.T.E.R.S.: Having Anger Towards Everyone Reaching Success" is a popular backronym (back acronym) that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, T-shirts and ecards.…
Comexodus (Comex + exodus)
The COMEX is the market where commodities such as gold, silver, copper and aluminum are traded. In 2015, it was reported that COMEX doesn't have the physical metals that it trades in.…
“Give the lady what she wants” (Marshall Field slogan)
"Give the lady what she wants" is said to have been the motto of Marshall Field (1834-1906), the founder of Chicago's Marshall Field & Company department store. "Give the…
“The only thing not delivered by a truck is a baby”
"The only thing not delivered by a truck is a baby" is a jocular saying that has been printed on bumper stickers. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2000. "If you…
“Children in the back seats of cars cause accidents…” (joke)
A popular joke is told about cars and accidents: "Children in the back seats of cars cause accidents. Accidents in the back seats of cars cause children." The joke was included in a list…
“I am known at the gym as the ‘before picture’”
"I am known at the gym as the 'before picture'" is a jocular line. The "before picture" means someone who is out of shape, before training. "I am known at the gym…
“Why doesn’t Jesus play hockey?” (joke)
A frequently told hockey joke has been cited in print since at least 2000: Q: Why doesn't Jesus play hockey?A: Because he's afraid of being nailed to the boards. An anti-joke of this was…
“High school teams adjust next game; college teams next half; NFL teams next series”
Miami (FL) Herald sportswriter Armando Salguero, in January 2012, compared the high school football game to the faster college game to the even faster NFL game: "There's an old adage…