Dracula Effect
On the July 28, 2011 edition of MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show (Melissa Harris-Perry, guest host), NBC political correspondent Luke Russert explained what Washington, DC called the…
Archive for /P34880
Carrot-Raisin Salad
"Carrot-raisin salad" is a simple salad of shredded carrots and raisins, with mayonnaise or salad dressing. The origin of the salad is unknown, but the name has been cited in print since…
“As sure as God made little green apples”
"As sure as God made little green apples" means extremely sure. The ssaying "as sure as God made apples" has been cited in print since at least 1828, "the good Lord made…
“Is that a banana in your pants or are you just happy to see me?”
"Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?" is credited to the actress Mae West (1892-1980), but the saying was not in her movies, such as the frequently (and…
“As welcome as a skunk at a lawn party”
"As welcome/popular as a skunk at a lawn party/garden party/picnic" means not very welcome or popular at all. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1898, when the novel David…
Phyz or Phyzz (physical asset)
A "physical" asset means possesion of the actual thing, not a paper promise for it. "Physical" gold or silver means having actual gold or silver, not paper certificates for it.…
Resluglican or Reslug (Republican + slug)
"Resluglican" or "Reslug" (Republican + slug) is an unflattering nickname for Republicans, comparing them to slugs (lazy "sluggards" or the gastropods). The nickname…
America’s National Credit Card
The debt problems of the United States have frequently been compared to the credit card problems of average Americans. References have been made to America's "national credit card"…
Barbarous Relic (gold nickname)
The economist John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) wrote in his book, A Tract on Monetary Reform (1923): "In truth, the gold standard is already a barbarous relic." The term "barbarous…
Greatest Depression
The period from 1929 until the end of the 1930s has been termed the"Great Depression," but some have also called it the "Greatest Depression." The modern term of "Greatest…
“Own your age in bonds”
"Own/Invest your age in bonds" is a popular rule of thumb for investing. For example, a 20-year-old should have 20% in bonds and 80% in equities, but a 50-year-old should have 50% in…
“The dice have no memory”
"The dice have no memory" means that, while the dice usually follow the odds, the dice don't always do so. For example, there might be a roll of double sixes; another roll of double…
“If it flies, floats or fucks, it’s cheaper to rent it”
“If it flies, floats or fucks, rent it, don’t buy it," said the character Tommy Earl Bruner in Dan Jenkins' novel, Baja Oklahoma (1981). The saying means that owning an airplane or a…
BOAT (Break Out Another Thousand)
Owning a boat can be very expensive. The joke that "boat" is an acronym for "Blow/Break/Bring/Bust Out Another Thousand (dollars)" has been cited in print since at least 1995.…
Debtpocalypse (debt + apocalypse)
"Debtpocalypse” (debt + apocalypse) became a popular term in July 2011, as the federal government discussed raising the nation’s debt ceiling and debated cutting spending (to decrease the…
“Don’t tell my mother I’m a banker—she thinks I play piano in a whorehouse”
"Don't tell my mother I'm a banker -- she thinks I play piano in a bordello/brothel/cat house/whorehouse" is a joke about how little people think of bankers. The joke began…
“Don’t tell my mother I’m a politician—she thinks I play piano in a whorehouse”
"Don't tell my mother I'm a politician -- she thinks I play piano in a bordello/brothel/cat house/whorehouse" is a joke about how little people think of politicians. The joke…
Main Street Across America (Lincoln Highway)
The Lincoln Highway (dedicated in October 1913) was the first road across the United States. In 2009, a sign was placed in New York's Times Square to mark the beginning of the highway that…
“Picking up nickels in front of a steamroller”
"Picking up pennies/nickels/dimes/quarters in front of a bulldozer/steamroller" means steadily making investments for a small return, only to be eventually crushed (by a financial crash…
Dear Leader
North Korea's Kim Jong-il has been called "Dear Leader Comrade" (Chinaehanun Jidoja Tongji) since the end of the 1960s. The title of "Dear Leader" has also been applied --…