City on the Make (Chicago nickname)
American author Lucius Beebe (1902-1966) called New York City "Babylon on the Make" in 1937 and several times in the 1940s. Atlanta was called a "city on the make" in…
Archive for 08/2016
City That Works (Chicago nickname)
Several cities have been called a "city that works." The expression can mean that the city has a strong manufacturing base, or that the city efficiently delivers municipal services.…
Party of the Year (Met Gala nickname)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has held an annual fundraiser since 1948, called the Costume Institute Gala, but usually known as the "Met Gala" or "Met…
Oscars of the East Coast (Met Gala nickname)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has held an annual fundraiser since 1948, called the Costume Institute Gala, but usually known as the "Met Gala" or "Met…
“What do you call an emo vegetable?”/“A despair-agus.”
"Despairagus" (despair + asparagus) is a portmanteau word that has been called the "saddest vegetable." The word "despairagus" was used in the newsgroup rec.humor in…
Hudson River: American Rhine (Hudson River nickname)
New York's Hudson River was frequently compared to Germany's famous Rhine River in 19th century accounts. THe Hudson was called "the Rhine of America" in 1836. The term…
Healthonism (health + hedonism); Healthonist
"Healthonism" (health + hedonism) and "healthonist" (health + hedonist) are terms that were coined in reports by J. Walter Thompson Intelligence in 2015. In "The Future of…
“What did the hot dog vendor say at the World Trade Center?” (joke)
The September 11, 2001 attacks that destroyed New York City's World Trade Center quickly became the subject of jokes. This joke was cited on September 25, 2001: Q: What did the hot dog seller…
Plattsburgh: Montreal’s U.S. Airport (Plattsburgh International Airport nickname)
Plattsburgh (NY) International Airport gave itself a nickname in an August 18, 2005 press release: "It is being recognized as 'MONTREAL'S U.S. AIRPORT' based on its strategic…
First In, Still Here (FISH)
"First In, Still Here" (FISH) is an infrequently used accounting acronym, similar to "First in, First Out" (FIFO) and "Last In, First Out" (LIFO). FISH has been cited…
“A man walks into a bar. His alcoholism problem is destroying his family” (bar joke)
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." An anti-joke of the bar joke is: "A man walks into a bar. His alcoholism problem is…
“What do you call an accountant with an opinion?”/“An auditor.”
Accountants are often joked to be less exciting people than auditors. An accounting joke is: Q: What do you call an accountant with an opinion?A: An auditor. The joke was cited on Twitter on…
“How much does it cost to get married?” (joke)
How much does it cost to get married? A marriage license costs a small amount, but there are other costs. This joke was popularized in the Philadelphia (PA) Record in 1909: "How much does it…
“A man overdosed on curry powder and went into a korma”
"Korma" should not be confused with "coma," but there are jokes. A pun about spicy Asian food is: A man overdosed on curry powder and went into a korma." "Did you hear…
“A politician’s back-slapping and hand-shaking is spoiled by leg-pulling”
"People don't mind a politician's hand-shaking and back-slapping, so much as his leg-pulling" was cited in several American newspapers in May 1935. Authorship is unknown. Hal…
“Microwave minutes are longer than regular minutes”
"Microwave minutes are longer than regular minutes" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on many images. It's difficult to wait for food to cook in the microwave when…
“School minutes are longer than regular minutes”
"School minutes are longer than regular minutes" is a saying popular with students who can't wait to get out of school. "It seems as though school minutes are 269 seconds rather…
“Vodka pays the bills”
"Vodka pays the bills" is a popular industry adage that has been printed on T-shirts. If one wants to have a successful bar, then a good supply of vodka is essential. "I enjoy higher…
“Does running out of money count as exercise?”
"Does running out of money count as exercise?" is a jocular question that has been printed on many images. “The only exercise he ever got was running out of money" was cited in…
“The most painful exercise is running out of money”
Is "running out of money" an exercise? "The only exercise he ever got was running out of money" is a jocular line that was cited in Earl Wilson's New York-based syndicated…