“My doctor told me to watch my drinking, so now I drink in front of a mirror”
"I saw my doctor. He told me to watch my drinking," New York-based comedian Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) said in his act. "Now I drink in front of a mirror." It's not…
Archive for 10/2015
“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows”
Newspaper columnist Sydney J. Harris wrote in August 1978: "Most people are 'mirrors,' merely reflecting the moods and emotions of the times; few are 'windows,' bringing…
“I’m too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener”
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" is an old proverb meaning that everyone's situation in life is seemingly (if not actually) more desirable than one's…
“I love the smell of possibility in the morning”
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning" is a famous line in the film Apocalypse Now (1979). "I love the smell of possibility in the morning" is a saying that has been…
“Giving up on your goal because of one setback is like slashing your other tires because of a flat”
"Giving up on your goal because of one setback is like slashing your other three tires because you got a flat" was cited on Christine Kane's blog on January 30, 2013. The saying has…
“If women ruled the world, there would be no wars…”
"If women ruled the world, there would be no wars" is an old saying that may or may not be true. "If women ruled the world there would be no wars. Just a bunch of jealous countries…
True Happiness Ended Since It Started (“thesis” backronym)
Working on a thesis can be an all-encompassing endeavor. The word "thesis" is not an acronym, but it's sometimes been given the backronym (back acronym) of "True Happiness Ended…
“My exercise routine consists of doing diddly squats”
"My exercise routine consists of doing diddly squats" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on ecards and T-shirts. The saying has been cited on Twitter since January 6,…
“The bartender asked me, ‘What’ll you have?’ I said, ‘Surprise me’” (joke)
New York-based comedian Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) often told a self-deprecating joke about going into a bar: "The bartender asked me, 'What'll you have?' I said,…
“Be so good they can’t ignore you”
American comedian, actor and author Steve Martin told the Los Angeles (CA) Times in a 1991 interview: "A friend of mine once asked how to make it in show business and I said 'Be so good…
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”/“Probably in a mirror.”
"Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?" is a common job interview question. The interviewer wants to know about the job applicant's general career plans. "Where do I see…
“Every master was once a disaster”
"Every master was once a disaster" is the well-known saying by business author and motivational speaker T. Harv Eker, cited in his book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the…
“A politician is a man who will double-cross that bridge when he comes to it”
"A politician is a man who will double-cross that bridge when he comes to it" is a jocular one-line saying that is frequently credited to American composer and comedian Oscar Levant…
“The in-flight movie was so bad, people were walking out”
Airplanes in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s showed a movie, and people did not have private screens or other devices that offered a choice of entertainment. The old joke went: "That…
Auld Mug (America’s Cup trophy nickname)
Thomas Lipton (1849-193), a Scotsman famed for his grocery stores and Lipton teas, wanted badly to win the America's Cup for England. He had yachts called Shamrock through Shamrock V, but he…
Transfarency (transparency + fare)
Southwest Airlines introduced its "transfarency" (transparency + fare) advertising campaign in 2015. The word "transfarency" was filed for a trademark on June 19, 2015.…
Zydecajun (zydeco + Cajun)
American Cajun singer Wayne Toups has called his brand of music "zydecajun" (zydeco + Cajun). The name "Zydecajun" is also the formal name of his group that recorded an album in…
Riveters (National Women’s Hockey League team)
The National Women's Hockey League -- the first-ever all women’s professional paid hockey league -- was announced in March and April 2015 with four inaugural teams, consisting of the Boston…
“Price it low, watch it go; price it high, watch it die” (real estate adage)
"Quote it low, watch it go" and "Quote it high, watch it die" are popular real estate adages in Australia and New Zealand, where real estate is sold at auction. If a price is…
“Publicity is like poison. It doesn’t hurt unless you swallow it”
The Penn State football team in 1962, under head football coach Rip Engle (1906-1983), had high expectations. (The team would finish 9-2.) Engle was quoted in the Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer on…