“There is always free cheese in a mousetrap”
"There's always free cheese in a mousetrap" means a combination of "there is no such thing as a free lunch," "you can't get something for nothing" and…
Archive for /P33140
“An expert is a man who avoids the small errors as he sweeps on to the grand fallacy”
"An expert is a man who avoids the small errors as he sweeps on to the grand fallacy" is a jocular statement showing that experts can be technically correct in small matters and yet…
“Now I sit me down to sleep; the speaker’s dull, the subject deep”
"Now I lay me down to sleep" is a bedtime prayer that has been cited in print since at least 1711. Lectures can put people to sleep, prompting this prayer, first cited in print in 1939:…
“Never play pool with a guy named Fats”
Nelson Algren (1909-1981) wrote about this advice in A Walk on the Wild Side (1956): "Never eat at a place called Mom's. Never play cards with a man named Doc. And never lay down with a…
“Just for the halibut” (“just for the hell of it” euphemism)
"Just for the halibut" is a euphemism for "just for the hell of it." "Let's go fishin' -- just for the halibut (helofit)" was cited in print in May 1941. The…
“Love means nothing to a tennis player”
"Love means nothing to a tennis fan/player" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, buttons and posters. The joke is a pun on the word…
“Old teachers never die—they just lose their class”
"Old soldiers never die -- they just fade away” is an old saying that was popularized by General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) in his farewell address to Congress on April 19, 1951. Many…
“Old deans never die—they just lose their faculties”
"Old soldiers never die -- they just fade away” is an old saying that was popularized by General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) in his farewell address to Congress on April 19, 1951. Many…
“Speed is subsittute fo accurancy”
“Speed is subsittute fo accurancy" ("speed is a/no substitute for accuracy" intentionally misspelled) is a jocular misspelling showing that, indeed, speed is no substitute for…
“Democrats initiate, Republicans consolidate”
"Democrats initiate, Republicans consolidate" was written by William Norman Grigg in The New American magazine (a publication of the John Birch Society) in the December 4, 2000 issue.…
“Dieters live life in the fasting lane”
The song "Life in the Fast Lane" was performed by the Eagles on the album Hotel California (1976). "Dieters live life in the fasting lane" is a jocular saying of unknown…
“Duty. Honor, Country”
"Duty, Honor, County" is the motto of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The motto was adopted in 1898 from a committee headed by Col. Charles W. Larned. "Duty, honor,…
Destructocrat (destruction + Democrat)
"Destructocrat" (destruction + Democrat) is a political term used by those who believe that Democrats are destroying the United States. "Destructocrat" has been cited in print…
Climate Cliff
A "climate cliff" is a point-of-no-return for the environment where man can't reverse man-made environmental problems. "Climate cliff" has been cited in print since at…
Far Rockaway Cough
Far Rockaway suffered much damage from Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. A November 14, 2012 MyFoxNY.com report on the post-hurricane health problems in Far Rockaway was titled "Far Rockaway…
“Two peanuts were walking down the street—one was assaulted” (joke)
"Two peanuts were walking down the street -- one was assaulted" ("assaulted" is a pun on "a salted" peanut) is a joke that has been published on many websites.…
“Hors d’oeuvres—a ham sandwich cut into forty pieces”
Hors d'oeuvres are often very tiny pieces of food. "Hors d'oeuvres: A ham sandwich cut into 40 pieces" has been credited since at least 1952 to the comedian Jack Benny…
“It’s only money”
"It's only money" means that there are other things more important than money. The person who loses money can get it back again. A person's health, for example, is always much…
“Time flies like an arrow: fruit flies like a banana”
"Time flies like an arrow: fruit flies like a banana" is often credited to the comedian Groucho Marx (1890-1977), but Marx -- if he ever said it -- almost certainly has nothing to do with…
“Politicians are interested in people; fleas are interested in dogs”
P. J. O'Rourke is an author known for political satire. He wrote in Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S Government (1991): "Politicians are interested…