“The buck stops here” (accept responsibility)
"Pass the buck" means to avoid responsibility. "The buck stops here" means to accept responsibility. This was printed in the Lincoln (NE) Evening Journal on October 2, 1929:…
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health
“The bull walks up the stairs and the bear jumps out the window”
"The bull walks up the stairs and thee bear jumps out the window" means that a market drops ("bear") faster than it rises ("bull"). The saying has been cited in print…
“The Burning of the School” (“Battle Hymn of the Republic” parody)
Various versions of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" change the lyrics into an anti-school anthem, often called "The Burning of the School." The following was cited in February…
“The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work”
There's a joke about being a little behind in work: "The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work." The joke has been cited in print since at least…
“The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work”
There's a joke about being a little behind in work: "The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work." The joke has been cited in print since at least…
“The butcher who made seabird sausages took a tern for the wurst”
"The butcher who made seabird sausages took a tern for the wurst," according to a popular pun. "Tern for the wurst" has been printed on T-shirts. Associated Press writer Jay…
“The butler did it” (murder mystery drama saying)
"The butler did it" is a clichéd solution to a murder mystery novel or play. The saying has long been associated with American author Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1958); her novel The…
“The buttons on my jeans have started social distancing from each other”
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic caused many people to stay at home -- and get fat. "The buttons on my jeans are the only ones following social distancing" was posted on Twitter by…
“The camera adds ten pounds” (film and television adage)
"The camera adds ten pounds" is an old film and television adage that is still held by many. Camera angles and colors can make one to appear fatter or thinner. "The motion-picture…
“The camera doesn’t lie” (“The camera never lies”)
'The camera doesn't lie" (or "the camera never lies") means that photographic evidence shows what something actually looks like. The old saying has been used since the…
“The camera looks both ways” (photography adage)
"The camera looks both ways" is a photography adage popularized by the Canadian nature photographer Freeman Patterson. In his book, i>Photography for the Joy of It (1977), Patterson…
“The cannibal had a wife and ate kids”
A popular cannibal pun is: "The cannibal had a wife and ate (eight) kids." American author and English teacher Richard Lederer wrote in Get Thee to a Punnery (1988): "Have you heard…
“The captain of a yacht is a sails manager”
"Sales manager" shouldn't be confused with "sails manager," but there are jokes. "YES! Just been hired as a sails manager at the yacht club 🚣" was posted on…
“The car manual says that I shouldn’t turn up the stereo to full volume. That’s sound advice”
The expression "sound advice" usually doesn't literally involve sound, but there are jokes. This was posted on Twitter by Reverend Scott on June 20, 2016: SON: The car's manual…
“The cashier at the local grocery store asked me if I wanted to donate $2 to end world hunger…”
"I was at the grocery store. When I got to the cashier she was like, 'Do you want to donate two dollars to end world hunger?' I was like, hell yeah! I had no idea we were so…
“The cashier said, ‘Strip down, facing me.’ How was I to know she actually meant my debit card?”
A cashier joke has been printed on many images: "The cashier said, 'Strip down, facing me.' How was I to know she actually meant my debit card?" "And then another idiotic…
“The CDC just announced you can stop wearing socks with your sandals”
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued many pronouncements during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In May 2021, the CDC announced that vaccinated people do…
“The CDC says to disinfect the places that you touch the most. Don’t do it, it freaking burns!”
"A Lysol commercial just said to disinfect the thing you touch the most. Fuck!!! This is gonna burn" is a jocular line that was posted on Twitter by Mark on February 20, 2011. "THE…
“The cemeteries are full of indispensable men”
"The cemeteries/graveyards are full of indispensable men/people" means that no one is indispensable. The saying has been credited to Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) and Charles de Gaulle…
“The Center For Health in the Center of the World” & “Another Day, Another Breakthrough”
Mount Sinai Hospital was founded in 1852. "The Center For Health in the Center of the World" was first used in 2000. "Another Day, Another Breakthrough" is an even more recent…