"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee" is a frequently cited anecdote that has usually been attributed to Abraham Lincoln…
To "tie one on" means to become drunk. A March 1933 newspaper article on American slang defined it, "tie one on, to become intoxicated." It's not explained what is being…
To "pull oneself up by one's bootstraps" means to succeed without outside help. "Over the Cumberland river or a barn yard fence by the straps of his boots" was cited in…
"No one ever says 'It's only a game' when their team is winning" is a humorous saying indicating that winning -- even winning meaningless exhibition games -- gives a…
A "restaurateur" is a person who runs a restaurant; the term is neither masculine nor feminine. A "restaurateur" who is a woman is frequently called a "restaurateuse,"…
"To err is human; to forgive, divine" was written by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) in "An Essay on Criticism" (1711). The line is famous and has many parodies. "To err is…
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is a popular American poem verse from the 1830s. The verse has many joke endings that replace "try, try again." "If at…
In business, an offer or a proposal that is "on the (bargaining) table" is one that is under consideration or discussion. "To lay that proposal on the table" has been cited in…
The expression "bring something to the table" possibly originated with people bringing food to the dinner table. During collective bargaining, both management and labor are said to…
In collective bargaining, when management or labor takes something "off the (bargaining) table," it's no longer to be considered for discussion. "Taken off the bargaining…
A deal or a payment made "under the table" is one made secretly or covertly. The phrase "under the table" might come from card playing and gambling, but some liquor during…
The terms "food security" and "food insecurity" were popularized in the early 1970s. The U.S. Congress published a report titled World Food Security (1973) and the Food and…
"Latte' is French/Italian/Latin for 'you paid too much for that/your coffee'" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and…
"There's too much blood in my caffeine system" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, T-shirts and coffee mugs. The saying has been cited in…
"If you plant corn, you get corn" is a proverb that means "you reap what you sow." The proverb is based on the New Testament's Galatians 6:7: "Be not deceived; God is…
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" is a Chinese proverb credited to philosopher Laozi (604 B.C.-531 B.C.). "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash…
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league, headquartered in New York City. The NFL has been dubbed "No Fan Loyalty" since at least 1995, when several…
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league, headquartered in New York City. The NFL has been dubbed the "No Fun League" by those who believe that NFL…
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league, headquartered in New York City. In 1988, Houston Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville said to an NFL official (video is…
"Big time players make big (time) plays in big (time) games" is a popular sports saying. The saying means that sports superstar players prove their greatness by making great plays in…