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February 20, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If I could cure cancer, you’d say that I put doctors out of work” (bad press)

"If I (a politician) could cure cancer, you'd (the press would) say that I put doctors out of work" is a saying about someone who can never get honest press coverage, no matter what…

October 4, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If I could walk on water, you’d say that I can’t swim” (bad press)

Jesus walking on water is recorded in three of the Gospels of the New Testament. Walking on water (a miracle) is often compared to swimming (a normal activity). A joke circulated in 1945 that…

December 29, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If I ever go to prison, I’m gonna change my name to mitochondria—powerhouse of the cell”

Mitochondrion ("mitochondria" is the plural) is known as the powerhouse of the cell. There have been several jokes about "prison" cells. "If I ever go to jail I'm gna…

May 7, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If I ever need a heart transplant, I want a Republican’s heart—it’s never been used” (joke)

An old political joke told by Democrats such as Lyndon Johnson, Walter Mondale and Ted Kennedy has a person needing a heart transplant being offered three different hearts -- the heart of someone…

October 11, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If I had a dollar for every time socialism worked, I would have $0…”

"If I had a dollar for every time socialism worked, I would have $0. Coincidentally if it did work, I would also have $0" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "If I had…

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

“If I had to choose between freedom of speech and my gun, I’d choose my gun…”

"If I had to choose between freedom of speech and my gun, I'd choose my gun. Then I'd say what I want because I have a gun" is a Bill of Rights saying that has been printed on…

March 4, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“If I post something you don’t like, just ignore it like you ignore corruption in the government”

"If I post something you don't like, just ignore it like you ignore government corruption" (or "If I post something you don't like, just ignore it like you ignore the…

March 4, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“If I post something you don’t like, just ignore it like you ignore government corruption”

"If I post something you don't like, just ignore it like you ignore government corruption" (or "If I post something you don't like, just ignore it like you ignore the…

March 4, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“If I post something you don’t like, just ignore it like you ignore the corruption of the government”

"If I post something you don't like, just ignore it like you ignore government corruption" (or "If I post something you don't like, just ignore it like you ignore the…

March 31, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If I wanted the government in my womb, I’d fuck a Senator”

"If I wanted the government in my womb, I'd fuck a Senator" is a women's rights saying that has been printed on many images. "If I wanted the government in my womb,…

June 12, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If I were a judge, I’d change my surname to Mental”

Is there a judgmental judge named Judge Mental? "Or I'll change my last name to 'Mental' so when I get my own show they'll say; 'all rise for Judge Mental'"…

July 13, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If I’m not home accepting what I can’t change, I’m probably out changing what I can’t accept”

The Serenity Prayer is: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." "If I'm not…

February 29, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results—then what is voting?”

“Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result” is an old saying. Some people have used that definition to explain voting. "If insanity is doing the same thing again…

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

“If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck”

Emil Mazey (1913-1983), the secretary-treasurer of the United Automobile Workers for 33 years, said at a labor meeting in 1946: "I can't prove you are a Communist. But when I see a bird…

March 23, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If it moves, tax it”

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan said: "Back then (before 1981 -- ed.), government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps…

October 26, 2018
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If it weren’t for court dates, I wouldn’t be dating at all”

Having a court date isn't really "dating," but a joke was posted on Reddit -- Oneliners on October 25, 2018: "If it weren't for court dates, I wouldn't be dating at…

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

“If it worked and was safe, you wouldn’t need to mandate, force, deceive or threaten…”

"If it worked and was safe, you wouldn’t need to mandate, force, deceive or threaten those who question it" is a saying that has been printed on many images. the saying usually refers…

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

“If it’s not voluntary, it’s tyranny”

"If it's not voluntary, it's tyranny" is a political saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is unknown. "If it's not voluntary, it's tyranny.…

October 19, 2024
Education/SchoolsGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If Jewish schools teach Judaism, Catholic schools teach Catholicism and Islamic schools teach Islamism, then what do government schools teach?”

What do state schools teach? "If trade schools teach trades, and religious schools teach religion, then what do state schools teach?" was posted on Facebook by Justin Damask on May 23,…

June 11, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If liberalism worked, you’d still be in California”

"(Vote Conservative.) If liberalism worked, you'd still be in California" is a saying (popular in places such as Arizona, Idaho and Texas) that has been printed on many images.…

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About the Website and Editor

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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