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September 11, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wasn’t born Republican, Democrat, or yesterday”

"I wasn't born yesterday" means that the speaker is not so naive as to believe certain faulty arguments or proposals. "I wasn't born Republican, Democrat, or…

October 5, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wasn’t sitting here awaiting govt guidance on whether I could celebrate Christmas this year”

During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, politicians and government health agencies gave advice on how to celebrate Christmas. Many people ignored the advice and celebrated Christmas however…

August 5, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I went to a BLM rally this weekend and all I got was this lousy t shirt…”

"My parent went to Florida and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" is a popular meme from the 1970s. June and July 2020 had protests and civil unrest (riots) following the death of George…

August 5, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I went to a protest last weekend and all I got was this lousy t shirt…and a TV…”

"My parent went to Florida and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" is a popular meme from the 1970s. June and July 2020 had protests and civil unrest (riots) following the death of George…

May 13, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I went to the doctor with a suspicious-looking mole. He said they all look that way and I should have left him in the garden”

A mole could be cancer -- or it could just be a garden animal. "I went to the doctor with a suspicious-looking mole. He said they all look that way and I should have left him in the…

January 16, 2025
Exercise/Running/Health ClubsGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I will never donate money to anyone collecting for a marathon. They just take the money and run”

"Take the money and run" is a common expression to describe a scammer who will run off with someone's money. "Never donate money to anyone collecting for a marathon. They just…

July 17, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I will not wear someone else’s fear” (anti-facemask saying)

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in some requirements to wear face masks. "I will not wear someone else's fear" is an anti-facemask saying that has been printed on an…

April 8, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wish complaining about taxes was tax-deductible”

"I wish complaining about taxes was tax-deductible" is a jocular one-line saying about taxes that has been printed on an ecard. The saying was posted on Twitter on April 17, 2012.…

October 5, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wish Covid-19 had started in Las Vegas. Because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" is a famous slogan of Las Vegas, Nevada. Many people joked that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic should have originated in Las Vegas for this…

February 8, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wish for a world without lawyers” (joke)

A lawyer joke has been printed on several images: Genie: I shall grant you 3 wishes.Me: I wish for a world without lawyersGenie: Done, you have no more wishes.Me: But you said 3.Genie: Sue me. The…

January 25, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wish people were as passionate about regulating their government…”

"I wish people were as passionate about regulating their government as they are about regulating their neighbors" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "I wish people…

October 5, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wish the coronavirus had started in Las Vegas. Because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" is a famous slogan of Las Vegas, Nevada. Many people joked that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic should have originated in Las Vegas for this…

March 13, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wish the government would just ban itself”

"I wish the government would just ban itself" is an anti-government saying that has been printed on many images. On the American animated sitcom King of the Hill, the episode…

October 15, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wondered why somebody didn’t do something. Then I realized that I am somebody”

"I wondered why somebody didn't do something. Then I realized that I am somebody" is a popular saying of unknown authorship. *I waited for somebody to do something. Then I realized I…

January 6, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I worship the quicksand he walks on”

"I worship the very quicksand the President walks on," American humorist and Washington (DC) Post columnist Art Buchwald (1925-2007) said of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.…

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

“I would like to suggest government-free zones”

"I would like to suggest government-free zones" is an anti-government saying that has been printed on several images. Government often imposes "gun-free zones" and…

May 31, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I would never have believed that a few weeks of uncut hair would weigh 20 pounds”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in quarantines, and many people got fat. Barbershops were closed, and many people grew their hair long. "Hard to believe that five weeks of uncut…

January 22, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I would never invade the United States. There would be a gun behind every blade of grass”

"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each/every blade of grass" is a saying that has been printed on many images. It is credited to Japanese…

March 26, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I would rather be governed by the first hundred names in the telephone book”

American conservative author and journalist William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925-2008) -- who went to Yale University -- didn't think that academics necessarily made great legislators. The New York…

May 23, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“I wouldn’t vote for you if you were St. Peter!”/“If I were, you wouldn’t be in my district!”

An old political joke (cited in print from at least 1940), has a political heckler saying, "I wouldn't vote for you if you were St. Peter himself." The politician swiftly answers…

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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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