“When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye”
"If life hands you lemons, make lemonade" is an old saying from the early 1900s. There have been many jocular variations. "When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye"…
Archive for 09/2016
“When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt”
"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt" is a popular work saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was printed in an April 11, 1947 Richmond (VA)…
“No matter how fast your car is, you can’t outrun a police radio”
"No matter how fast your car is, you can't outrun a police radio" is a policing adage. A speeding criminal, for example, often is tempted to go faster and escape the police. The…
Front Page (East Flatbush, Brooklyn nickname)
"Front Page" is the nickname for the area of East Flatbush, Brooklyn at Foster Avenue and Nostrand Avenue, at the Vanderveer Estates apartment buildings. Crime was so bad that drug…
Back Page (East Flatbush, Brooklyn nickname)
"Front Page" is the nickname for the area of East Flatbush, Brooklyn at Foster Avenue and Nostrand Avenue, at the Vanderveer Estates apartment buildings. Crime was so bad that drug…
“I love hard work. I could watch it all day”
English author Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) wrote about work in Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) (1889): "It always seems to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is…
Front Page (East Flatbush, Brooklyn)
"Front Page" is the nickname for the area of East Flatbush, Brooklyn at Foster Avenue and Nostrand Avenue, at the Vanderveer Estates apartment buildings. Crime was so bad that drug…
“What’s the Constitution among friends?”
New York Democratic politician Tim Campbell (1840-1904) served in the New York State senate in 1884 and 1885, and then served in Congress in 1886. A popular anecdote was reported in The Washington…
Back Page (East Flatbush, Brooklyn)
"Front Page" is the nickname for the area of East Flatbush, Brooklyn at Foster Avenue and Nostrand Avenue, at the Vanderveer Estates apartment buildings. Crime was so bad that drug…
CRAFT Disease or CRAFT Moment (Can’t Remember A Fucking Thing)
"CRAFT disease" or "CRAFT moment" is an acronym for "Can't Remember A Flaming/Flipping/Freaking/Frigging/Fucking Thing." A related problem is "CRS…
“Taking wealth from the air” (air rights)
American engineer William J. Wilgus (1865-1949) helped design New York City's Grand Central Terminal (opened rebuilt in 1913). He designed the railroad tracks to be placed under the ground,…
“Never judge presidential timber by its bark”
The New York City humor magazine Life published on June 28, 1923: "THE presidential candidates have started roaring. But you should never judge presidential timber by its bark."…
“Chicken pot pie—my three favorite things”
"Chicken pot pie -- my three favorite things" is a jocular line that has been printed on many images Chilean American stand-up comedian Pablo Francisco used the joke in his act by at…
Heroin Island (heroin + Staten Island)
The heroin epidemic on Staten Island made news in 2014 and 2015, creating the nicknames "Heroin's New Hometown" and "Heroin Island." "Heroin’s New Hometown: On…
Frosé (frozen rosé)
"Frosé" (frozen rosé) -- like an alcoholic slushee or Slurpee -- became popular in 2015 and the summer of 2016. "Dear dishes, I was gonna do you when I got home, but I cheated on…
Meatarian
A "vegetarian" eats vegetables, but not meat. A "meatarian" eats meat, with little or no vegetables. "Meatarian" has been cited in print since at least 1905.…
Meatatarian
A "vegetarian" eats vegetables, but not meat. A "meatatarian" eats meat, with little or no vegetables. "Meatatarian" has been cited in print since at least 1965.…
“What do you call a snake that works in the government?”/“A civil serpent.”
"Civil serpent" is a popular malapropism for "civil servant." A popular joke in October 1961 featured little girls telling each other what their fathers did. "My daddy is a…
Jewish Woodstock
The Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place in August 1969 in the Catskills, in the town of Bethel, Suffolk County, New York, and near the town of Woodstock. Various Jewish music festivals -- in…
Norwegian-American Line (R subway line)
"Little NorwaY" and "Finntown" were 20th century nicknames of Sunset Park/Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, and its many residents of Scandinavian origin. The "R" subway line…