Big Dance (NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship)
The "Big Dance" (also called "March Madness") is the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The NCAA has trademarked "Big Dance" since 2002, but "big dance"…
Archive for /P34100
March Madness (NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship)
"March Madness" (also called the "Big Dance") is the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The term is usually credited -- incorrectly -- to H. V. Porter (1891-1975), who used…
“Cooked to perfection” (“seasoned to perfection,” “grilled to perfection”)
The blog Serious Eats had a March 2012 discussion on "Overused food descriptions." The description "to perfection" was noted, as in "cooked to perfection,"…
“You can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him”
"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him" means that a sports superstar can be expected to perform well "you can't stop him"), so the secret to winning a…
“Nana’s kitchen, where memories are made and grandkids are spoiled”
"Nana's/Grandma's kitchen, where memories are made and grandkids are spoiled" is a sayingthat has been printed on many gift items that have apepared in many kitchens. The saying…
“Annoy a politician today—THINK”
"Annoy a politician today -- THINK" has been a bumper sticker slogan since at least 1995. The bumper sticker has been sold by Instant Attitudes since at least that date and the saying…
“A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory”
"A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory" is a saying that has been put on gift items such as bumper stickers and T-shirts since at least 1996. It's not known who…
“A penny saved is ridiculous”
"A penny saved is a penny earned" is often falsely attributed to Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), but forms of the saying date to the 1600s. "A penny saved is ridiculous" is a…
“The phrase ‘working mother’ is redundant”
"The phrase 'working mother' is redundant" means that if a mother doesn't have a job in the workplace, she still works doing cooking, cleaning, shopping, and many other…
“A bureaucrat is a politician with tenure”
"A bureaucrat is a politician with tenure" is a saying that has appeared on Internet lists since at least 1996. The saying is not entirely true, of course; many tenured bureaucrats are…
“Old doughnut makers never die, they just get tired of the whole business”
"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…
“There is no such thing as a little garlic”
"There is o such thing as a little garlic" is a saying similar to "there is no such thing as being a little pregnant" -- something either has garlic or it doesn't have it.…
“These days govt. is a four-letter word”
"These days govt. is a four-letter word" means that "govt." (government) can be obscene. "These govt. is a four letter word" (the word "days" appears to be…
Democide (demos/democracy + homicide)
"Democide" (demos/democracy + homicide) is a word used to describe the murder of any person or people by a government. Hunter College professor Theodore Abel (1896-1988) wrote about…
“I’d be a bum on the street with a tin cup if the markets were always efficient” (Warren Buffett)
"I'd be a bum on the street with a tin cup if the markets were always efficient" was said by billionaire investor Warren Buffett and published in the April 3, 1995 issue of Fortune…
Jackalope Dog (hot dog of rabbit, antelope and pork)
The restaurant Frank in Austin offers a "Jackalope" hot dog on its menu, described as "Our custom-made antelope, rabbit & pork sausage, huckleberry compote, sriracha aioli,…
Flat Earther
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) sailed to the western hemisphere from Spain in 1492; a myth developed that this voyage proved that the earth was round (and not flat), but this had been known for…
“When you mix religion and politics, you get politics”
"When you mis religion/science and politics, you get politics" (or, "When you mix politics and religion/science, you get politics") means that politics overcomes any discussion…
“Kitchen closed due to illness: I am sick of cooking”
"Kitchen closed due to illness: I am sick of cooking" is a one-line saying that has been placed on many gift items. "Kitchen closed on account of illness -- I'm sick of…
Third Avenue Guy (Wall Streeter working in a less important location on Third Avenue)
A March 14, 2012 New York (NY) Times "Dealbook" article explained: "A 'Third Avenue guy' is someone on Wall Street who is not smart enough to work for a company with…