“At my age, I don’t even buy green bananas”
"At my age, I don't even buy green bananas" is often credited to Florida Congressman Claude Pepper (1900-1989), but there's no documentary evidence that he said it before 1986.…
Archive for /P35560
Smashed Potatoes
"Smashed potatoes" was, originally, another way of saying "mashed potatoes." The term "smashed potatoes" has been cited in print since at least 1859. The books Maine…
“Anyone who says money can’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop”
"Money can't buy happiness" is a proverb that has been cited in English since at least 1821. "Anyone who says money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to…
“Money can’t buy happiness; it can, however, rent it”
"Money can't buy happiness" is a proverb that has been cited in English since at least 1821. There have been many jocular additions to the proverb. A 1985 Chicago (IL) Tribune…
“We have to dance until the music stops”
Citigroup CEO Chuck Prince told the Financial Times in July 2007: “When the music stops, in terms of liquidity, things will be complicated. But as long as the music is playing, you’ve got to…
“VIX is high, time to buy; VIX is low, time to go”
VIX (often called the "fear index" or "fear gauge") is the ticker symbol of the Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index. The adage is: "When the VIX is high,…
“Generals always fight the last war” (“Economists fight the last depression”)
'Generals always fight the last war" means that military strategy often focuses on what has happened rather than what will happen. "There is a tendency in many armies to spend the…
“Fascism is capitalism plus murder”
Upton Sinclair (1878-1968), formerly a socialist, unsuccessfully ran for governor of California as a Democrat in 1934 under the End Poverty In California (EPIC) platform. Sinclair said that he…
“Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation”
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is credited with saying "Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation" (or "Corrupt politicians make…
“Rome declined because it had a Senate; what’s going to happen to us with a Senate and a House?”
"Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate; now what's going to happen to us with both a Senate and a House?" is attributed to humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935). Rogers actually…
Doughnut (zero bonus)
A donut and a bagel have been used in the sports world to represent the number "zero," for no score. The doughnut and the bagel and the number zero all have a hole. A "doughnut"…
“Spread my work ethic, not my wealth”
"Spread My Work Ethic, Not My Wealth" is a bumper sticker slogan that has been a popular tea party slogan since April 2009. The saying might be related to Democratic presidential…
Zero (financial industry worker who doesn’t receive an annual bonus)
Many employees on Wall Street expect to see annual bonuses. A December 2010 article in the New York (NY) Times reported on a new club called "the Zeros" -- people who didn't receive…
Dementocrat (demented + Democrat)
"Dementocrat" (demented = Democrat) is an epithet to describe a Democrat. The term "Dementocrat" has been cited in print since at least 1997. Google Groups:…
CNBS (CNBC nickname)
The Consumer News and Business Channel was launched on April 17, 1989; in 1991, the name was shortened to "CNBC." The nickname "CNBS" has been used since at least 2007 by those…
J. P. Morgue (JPMorgan Chase nickname)
"J. P. Morgue" is an unflattering nickname for the banking firm JPMorgan Chase & Co. The bank is partly named after financier John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913). "J. P.…
“The vice presidency is a spare tire on the automobile of government”
John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner (1868-1967) was vice president of he United States from 1933-1941, but he never thought much of the vice presidency. On June 19, 1934, Garner was quoted as…
“You can’t see the future through a rear view mirror”
Wall Street stock investor Peter Lynch wrote "Peter's Principle #4" in his book Beating the Street (1993): "You can't see the future through a rear view mirror." This…
Ten Bagger (Tenbagger)
"Ten bagger" (or "tenbagger") is a term coined by Wall Street stock investor Peter Lynch for a stock that's worth ten times its original price. In baseball, a…
Pizza Bone
A "pizza bone" is the outer edge of the pizza crust -- usually without any cheese or tomato sauce. The name "pizza bone" has been cited in print since at least 1983. Wiktionary:…