“A self-taught man usually has a poor teacher and a worse student”
"A self-taught man usually has a poor teacher and a worse student" is an old line of unknown authorship. "He (Charles Haddon Spurgeon -- ed.) is a self-taught man, and contrary to…
Archive for 10/2015
“In God we trust. All others must bring data”
"In God we trust” was the motto of a Philadelphia regiment in 1748. Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangled Banner” (1814) contains the words “In God is our trust.” The association of…
“Real men wear aprons”
"Real men wear aprons" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items. The saying sometimes refers to Masonic aprons, but usually it refers to men cooking in barbecue aprons. The…
“That’s all she wrote”
"That's all she wrote" means "that's it," "that's the end," "nothing more to say." The origin of the saying is unknown. It has been thought…
“Planners are a funny lot. They carry neither sword nor pistol…”
A rhyme about planners has been cited in print since at least 1959: Planners are a curious lot, They wear not sword nor pistol. They walk stooped over -- never trot, Because their balls are…
“Some people are so poor, all they have is money”
"Some people are so poor, all they have is money" is a popular saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying means that some people, despite having money, are spiritually poor.…
“If you drink like a fish, swim—don’t drive”
"If you drink like a fish, swim -- don't drive" is a popular bumper sticker. "If you drink like a fish, don't drive. swim" was cited in print in July 1959 and credited…
“What do you get when you drop a piano on an army base?” (joke)
A popular piano riddle is: Q: What do you get when you drop a piano on an army base? A: A flat major. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1977. "What do you get when you drop a…
“If the waitress has dirty ankles, the chili will be good”
New York City-born college basketball coach and commentator Al McGuire (1928-2001) was known for his colorful language. He was quoted by Sports Illustrated in 1976: "If the waitress has dirty…
Cheapatarianism (cheap + vegetarianism); Cheapatarian
"Cheapatarian" has been cited since at least 1999 and has been infrequently used to describe someone who likes cheap things (not necessarily food). "Cheapatarian" (cheap +…
Ranchion (ranch + mansion)
A "ranchion" (ranch + mansion) is a ranch-style mansion. The ranch-style houses that were built post-World War II from the 1940s to the 1970s were usually one story buildings and…
“In New York, it’s not whether you win or lose — it’s how you lay the blame”
Grantland Rice (1880-1954) wrote, "For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name; He marks -- not that you won or lost -- but how you played the Game." American author…
Thrilledy (thriller + comedy)
A "thrilledy" (thriller + comedy) is a play or film that's part thriller, part comedy. "Retiring to my couch to watch a thrilledy (thriller/comedy) called 'Shallow…
Ranchion (ranch + mansion)
A "ranchion" (ranch + mansion) is a ranch-style mansion. The ranch-style houses that were built post-World War II from the 1940s to the 1970s were usually one story buildings and…
“In economics, two people can win a Nobel Prize for saying the opposite thing”
Gunnar Myrdal (1898-1987) and Friedrich von Hayek (1899-1992) shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in Economics, even though the former supported left-wing socialism and the latter supported right-wing free…
Marxocrat (Marxist + Democrat); Marxocratic
"Marxocrat" (Marxist + Democrat) is a term that some conservatives and Republicans use for Democrats who are politically aligned with Marxism. "Marxocrats" has been cited in…
Archtober (architecture + October)
New York City's annual Architecture Week became an annual architecture and design month in October 2011 with the first "Archtober" (architecture + October), pronounced…
Positive Attitude Changes Everything (“pace” backronym)
"Positive Attitude Changes Everything" is a backronym (or back acronym) of the word "pace." The positivity saying is often used in business and in sports. "PACE -- Positive…
“Your ass must get jealous of all the shit that comes out of your mouth”
"Your ass must be/get jealous of all the shit that comes out of your mouth" is a put-down that has been printed on several ecards. "Sometimes I wonder, yur Arse must be jealous of…
Keep Educating Yourself (“key” backronym)
"Keep Educating Yourself" is a backronym (or back acronym) of the word "key" that has been printed on many posters, usually shown with a hand writing the words on a school…