Nothing Burger (Nothingburger)
A "nothing burger" (or "nothingburger") is a person who is a non-entity, or an idea that is without merit, or anything that's a lot of nothing. A "nothing burger"…
Archive for /P35580
“It’s no disgrace to be poor, but it might as well be”
Kin Hubbard (1868-1930) drew the popular "Abe Martin Says" one-panel newspaper comic. Many sayings became widely quoted. "It's no disgrace t' be poor, but it might as well…
“When a fellow says, ‘It ain’t the money but the principle of the thing,’ it’s the money”
Kin Hubbard (1868-1930) drew the popular "Abe Martin Says" one-panel newspaper comic. Many sayings became widely quoted. "When a feller says, 'It hain't th' money, but…
“Now and then an innocent man is sent to the legislature”
Kin Hubbard (1868-1930) drew the popular "Abe Martin Says" one-panel newspaper comic. Many sayings became widely quoted. "Now an' then a innocent man is sent t' th'…
“We’d all like to vote for the best man, but he’s never a candidate”
Kin Hubbard (1868-1930) drew the popular "Abe Martin Says" one-panel newspaper comic. Many sayings became widely quoted. "We'd all like t' vote fer th' best man, but…
“A diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell so that you look forward to the trip”
"Diplomat -- one who can tell you to go to hades and make you look forward to the trip" has been cited in print since at least 1953 and is of unknown authorship. Caskie Stinnett…
“A committee is a body that keeps minutes and wastes hours”
"A committee is a body that keeps minutes and wastes hours" is an old joke that plays upon the word "minutes" (a written record and a unit of time). The joke first appeared in…
“A meeting is no substitute for progress”
"A meeting is no substitute for progress" has been cited in print since at least 1968. A company president (this might have once been true or it might have been a joke) used the…
“The word ‘politics’ is derived from ‘poly’ meaning ‘many’ and ‘ticks’ meaning ‘parasites’”
“The word 'politics' is derived from the word 'poly' meaning 'many', and the word 'ticks' meaning 'blood sucking parasites'” is a humorous…
“Capitalism is the legitimate racket of the ruling class”
"Capitalism is the legitimate racket of the ruling class" is credited to Brooklyn-born gangster Al Capone (1899-1947). The quotation has been cited in print since 2002, but there is no…
“The easiest way to make money is to stop losing it”
Entry in progress -- B.P. 8 March 1896, Syracuse (NY) Standard, pg. 7, col. 3:The easiest way to make money is by saving it.(Butler & Johnson -- ed.) 4 September 1896, Daily Kennebec Journal…
“People vote their resentment, not their appreciation”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: William B. MunroWilliam Bennett Munro (1875 – 1957) was a Canadian social scientist and eugenicist. 14 November 1923, Oregonian (Portland, OR), "Outlook…
Jacobs Beach (West 49th Street and Eighth Avenue)
"Jacobs Beach" (or "Jacobs' Beach") was named after Mike Jacobs (1880-1953), New York City's leading boxing promoter from the mid-1930s until he retired in 1946.…
“What Would Julia Do?” (WWJD)
“What Would Jesus Do?” (WWJD) is a saying from the 19th century, repopularized in 1989 with "WWJD" bracelets. A food variant of “WWJD”—“What Would Julia (Child)…
“Nothing is impossible to the man who doesn’t have to do it himself”
"Nothing is impossible to the man who doesn't have to do it himself" was called "The Bureaucrat's Law" in 1979. For a bureaucrat who can foist the work on someone…
“Many people spend money they haven’t earned…to impress people they don’t like”
"Too many people spend money they haven't earned for things they don't need to impress people they don't like" is a classic statement of how some people spend money in…
“Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines”
"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines" is a humorous quotation used in government and business. The saying means that there are dangers in climbing up the…
Foodgasm (food + orgasm)
A "foodgasm" (food + orgasm) is the ecstasy experienced from eating food -- or, in some case, from merely looking at food or thinking about food. The term "foodgasm" has been…
“Never sell on strike news” (Wall Street adage)
"Never sell on strike news" (or "Don't sell on strike news") is one of Wall Street's oldest adages. A strike often fails or is settled quickly; panic selling on strike…
Barefoot Pilgrim
A "barefoot pilgrim" was, originally, an unsophisticated car buyer -- someone who buys a car at the advertised sticker price and pays too much. This meaning of "barefoot…