Ambulance Chasing
"Ambulance chaser" is another derogatory term for a lawyer (see also the 1840s term"shyster"). An "ambulance chaser" preys on accident victims to sign them up to…
Archive for 09/2019
“What type of drink makes you lose weight?”/“Lighter fluid.”
Drinking "lighter fluid" doesn't make people "lighter" -- it could be fatal -- but there are jokes. "Want to lose weight? Try the Pyro Diet! Drink plenty of Lighter…
Gay Nineties (1890s)
The term "Gay Nineties" refers to the 1890s, when (supposedly) life was simpler and more fun ("gay"). The word "gay" in "Gay Nineties" did not mean…
“And on the eighth day God made coffee” (“And on the 8th day God made coffee”)
"And on the 8th day God made coffee" (or "And on the eighth day God made coffee") is a coffee saying that has been printed on many images. According to the Genesis creation…
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”
"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it" (or "Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it") is a saying that has been printed on many images.…
“I was sitting in traffic the other day. It’s probably why I was run over”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksTwo Nuns In A BathBy Geoff TibballsLondon, UK: Constable & Robinson2009Pg. ?: I was sitting in traffic the other day, which was probably why I got run…
“Why don’t developers carry guns?”/“They have troubleshooting.”
"Troubleshooting" doesn't involve guns, but there are jokes. This was posted on Reddit -- Dadjokes on September 4, 2019: Q: Why don't developers carry guns?A: They have…
“And on the 8th day God made coffee” (“And on the eighth day God made coffee”)
"And on the 8th day God made coffee" (or "And on the eighth day God made coffee") is a coffee saying that has been printed on many images. According to the Genesis creation…
“The only difference between the U.S. and a banana republic is we don’t grow bananas”
A "banana republic" is an unflattering criticism of a government. "The only difference between the United States (or some other country) and a banana republic is we don't grow…
“My boss fired me for making too many Asian jokes. I feel like this is the end of my Korea”
"My boss fired me for making too many Asian jokes. It was the end of my Korea" was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on February 19, 2019. "I'm still China find a new job" was…
Catskill Mountains: Borscht Belt or Borscht Circuit (nickname)
Jewish entertainers, in the period of about 1920 to 1970, frequently performed at hotels in the Catskill Mountains in New York that were dubbed the "borscht belt" or "borscht…
Catskill Mountains: Jewish Alps (nickname)
Several area of New York City that had a large Jewish popular were dubbed the "Jewish Alps." "An apartment house section of Brooklyn known as the 'Jewish Alps'" was…
Catskill Mountains: Yiddish Alps (nickname)
Several area of New York City that had a large Jewish popular were dubbed the "Jewish Alps." "An apartment house section of Brooklyn known as the 'Jewish Alps'" was…
“Heavens to Betsy!” (exclamation)
"Heavens to Betsy" is an exclamation of unknown origin. It was first cited in The Flag of Our Union (Boston, MA) on March 28, 1857. There is no evidence that "Betsy" is flag…
“Gospel is about God; blues is about women”
the difference between gospel music and blues music is that "Gospel is about God; blues is about women." The music saying has been cited in print since at least the 1970s and is of…
“Dad, can you tell me what a solar eclipse is?”/“No sun.”
There are many jokes with "son" and "sun." This was posted on Twitter by Landen Crouch on August 21, 2017: Boy: Dad, can you tell me what a solar eclipse is?Dad: No sun. The…
“I became math teacher to teach subtraction. I just want to make a difference”
Do math teachers who teach subtraction "make a difference"? "When I was a kid I wanted to make a difference. But my math teacher said I sucked at subtraction" was posted on…
“You can’t outrun a Motorola”
“No matter how fast your car is, you can’t outrun a police radio” is a law enforcement saying. "You can't outrun a Motorola" (Motorola is a popular brand of police radio) is a…
Mazuma (money slang)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)mazuma, n. Etymology: < Yiddish mezumen cash < post-biblical Hebrew mĕzummān prepared (in plural mĕzummānīm ready money, cash (in…
Kale (money slang)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)kale, n.North American slang. Money.1912 J. Sandilands Western Canad. Dict. 26 Kale, money, or wealth.1922 S. Lewis Babbitt xiii. 172 You will…