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March 18, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Hack in black (robes)” (activist judge)

An activist judge has been called a "hack in black (robes)." The rhyme (perhaps) borrows from the AC/DC 1980 album Back in Black. The term "hack in black" has been used by both…

November 21, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Hamilton started the Treasury with nothing; that’s the closest our country has been to being even”

"Alexander Hamilton started the U.S. Treasury with nothing -- and that was the closest our country has ever been to being even" was credited to American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935)…

September 3, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Hand sanitizer should be renamed ‘paper cut finder’”

Hand sanitizer will make a paper cut sting. Hand sanitizers given the label "paper cut finder" have been shown on many images. "'Hand sanitizer' should be re-labelled…

May 23, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Hands up! This is a civil asset forfeiture”

Many people believe that civil asset forfeiture is government robbery. Government can confiscate a large sum of money from a person, despite not accusing that person of a crime. The person then…

June 17, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Hang a lantern on your problem”

"Hang a lantern on your problem" was entered into the political lexicon in the 1980s by Chris Matthews, a former chief of staff to Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip…

January 1, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory”

"Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory" is a saying that has been printed on many images. X/Twitter KINOSCOPE @Kinoscope "Happiness is good health and a bad…

March 12, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Happy slaves are the biggest enemies of freedom”

Entry in progress -- BP Wikiquote: Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach Marie Freifrau von Ebner-Eschenbach (Baroness Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach) (September 13, 1830 – March 12, 1916) was an Mähren…

December 6, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Hard times create capitalists. Capitalists create good times. Good times create socialists. Socialists create hard times”

"Hard times create capitalists. Capitalists create good times. Good times create socialists. Socialists create hard times" is a saying that has been printed on many images. This is a…

April 13, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthWork/Businesses

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times”

"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying is…

May 23, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Has anyone else noticed the word ‘pandemic’ is just ‘dem’ surrounded by ‘panic?’”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic saw some Republicans point out the "Dem" (Democrat) in "pandemic." "When you realize that the word Pandemic is just ‘Dem‘ surrounded…

November 26, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Has anyone tried turning the country off and on again?”

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic made life difficult for many countries. "Has anyone tried turning the country off and on again?" -- something one does to a computer system -- is a joke that…

May 11, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Hate injures the hater, not the hated”

"Hate injures the hater, not the hated" has usually been credited to Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981), who was born Mildred Lisette Norman. However, Peace Pilgrim clearly indicated that the…

February 21, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthWork/Businesses

“Hating the IRS today is a great respite from hating my job”

"Hating the IRS today is a great respite from hating my job" is a tax day meme that was put on an ecard by Someecards in April 2013. X/Twitter Ibrahim A. Jimoh @ManLikeIB Hating the IRS…

May 6, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Have another booster shot and shut the fuck up”

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic caused many arguments between vaxers and anti-vaxers. "Have another booster shot and shut the fuck up" is something an anti-vaxer might say to insult a…

August 2, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Have we tried throwing a politician into a volcano to appease the virus yet?”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic had many people frustrated with politicians. "You shouldn’t be able to fuck up this bad as a politician without being thrown into a volcano" was…

November 7, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Have you been called conspiracy theorist in 2020? You may be entitled to an apology”

"Have you been called conspiracy theorist in 2020? You may be entitled to an apology" and "Have you or a loved one been called a conspiracy theorist? You may be entitled to an…

June 1, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Have you been traumatized by the toilet paper shortage? You may be entitled to constipation”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in panic buying -- and shortages -- of toilet paper. "HAVE YOU BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY THE SHORTAGE OF TOILET PAPER? YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO…

January 16, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Have you ever noticed how many towns are named after their water towers?”

"Have you ever noticed how many towns are named after their water towers?" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "How come so many small towns are named after…

July 14, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Have you ever wondered how just one little dog controls so many sheep? Fear”

"Have you ever wondered how just one little dog controls so many sheep? FEAR" (or "Ever wonder how one little dog controls so many larger and stronger sheep? FEAR") is a saying…

August 6, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Have you heard about the new Canadian strain of Covid-19? Most people infected are eh symptomatic”

The >2019–20 coronavirus pandemic popularized he word "asymptomatic." A joke was that Canadians were "eh-symptomatic." "Stay away from us Canadians, we're all Eh…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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