“A tax can be fair or simple, but not both”
"A tax can be fair or simple, but not both" is an old tax proverb. Bernard M. (Bob) Shapiro, who was Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation of the U.S. Congress from 1977 to…
Archive for /P29120
Pet Rock (gold nickname)
"Pet rocks" were a fad in the 1970, started by advertising executive Gary Dahl. Dahl sold the worthless rocks, along with a joke insruction booklet for handling the "pet." Gary…
“Worry is like a rocking chair—it doesn’t get you anywhere”
Entry in progress -- B.P. 13 April 1916, Glen Elder (KS) Sentinel, pg. 5, col. 5:Fretting is like a rocking chair; you do a great deal of agitating without getting anywhere. 1 May 1922, Daily News…
Planned Butcherhood (Planned Parenthood nickname)
Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides reproductive health and maternal and child health services. Planned Parenthood has been nicknamed "Planned Butcherhood" because of its…
Radio Row or Electronics District (Lower Manhattan)
New York City's "Radio Row" was a collection of electronics retail and repair stores that was located on Manhattan's Cortlandt Street. City Radio opened the first store on…
“You learn to read, and then you read to learn”
Entry in progress -- B.P. OCLC WorldCat recordLearning to Read-Reading to Learn.Author: FE GattingerEdition/Format: Article Article : EnglishPublication: The Canadian veterinary journal. La revue…
“A good pair of running shoes can last 400 miles” (running adage)
"A good pair of running shoes can last 400-500 miles" is a running adage of unknown origin. "Most good running shoes, however, should last for at least 500 miles (800 km) without the…
“Did you hear about the mathematician who’s afraid of negative numbers?” (joke)
"I'll stop at nothing to avoid using negative numbers" is a pun that was cited on Twitter on November 10, 2010. The joke quickly went viral. "Did you hear about the…
“I love you more than coffee, but not always before coffee”
"I love you more than coffee, but not always before coffee" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many coffee mugs. "I love you more than coffee, but not always before…
“There were two types of Jews in 1933—optimists and pessimists”
There is a grim Jewish "joke" that says that when Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, there were two kinds of Jews -- optimists and pessimists. The pessimists went into exile…
“Study (verb)—The act of texting, eating and watching TV with an open textbook nearby”
The website Grouchy Rabbit published a jocular definition in March 2011 that quickly became popular with students: "Study (verb) - The act of texting, eating and watching TV with an open…
Pre-Monday (Sunday nickname)
Sunday (especially after sundown) often feels like a "pre-Monday" workday. According to many ecards, these are the days of the week: MondayMonday #2Monday #3Monday…
“I don’t mind going to work, but the 8 hour wait to go home is bullshit”
"I don't mind going to work, but the 8 hour wait to go home is bullshit" is a jocular line that has been printed on many ecards. "I don't mind going to work but that eight…
“Low man wins” (football adage)
"Low man wins" is a popular saying in football. When offensive linemen play against defensive linemen, the lineman who goes low on the other lineman is the one who has the leverage.…
Music Row (West 48th Street)
New York City's "Music Row" was a collection of music instrument stores and repair shops along Manhattan's West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. The stores began…
Welfare Wednesday (Food Stamp Friday)
"Welfare Wednesday" describes the Wednesday of a month when welfare checks are sent out. The term is mostly used in Canada (especially in the city of Vancouver), but has also been used in…
“The party’s not over till you smile for the mugshot”
"The party's not over till you smile for the mugshot" is a jocular line that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, ecards and posters. "The party isnt over til…
“My gauge is fine ‘til the third glass of wine”
"My gauge is fine 'til the third glass of wine" is a saying that has been printed on a button. "My gauge is fine 'til the third glass of wine" was cited on Twitter on…
“Unless life also hands you water and sugar, your lemonade’s going to suck”
The phrase “to hand someone a lemon” (i.e., something defective) dates to at least 1906. The phrase “If life hands/deals/gives you lemons, make lemonade” (i.e., make the best of a bad…
Megadonor
A "mega-donor" (or"megadonor") is someone who gives a large sum of money to a person or a cause. Political campaigns actively seek "megadonors," but no specific dollar…