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November 12, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“‘We’re not forcing you,’ they say. ‘We’re just taking away everything you need until you consent’”

"Not forcing you, just taking away everything until you consent" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying usually refers to government persuasion to get people to take…

March 19, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“(I’ll give you my gun when you take it) From my cold, dead hands”

"I will give up my gun when they pry my cold, dead fingers from around it" is a bumper sticker slogan supporting gun rights and dating from at least March 1972. "I'll give up my…

June 2, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“(Liar, liar) Pants on fire”

The St. Petersburg (FL) Times originated in 2007 a website, Politifact.com, to check political facts. Statements are judged on a "Truth-O-Meter" with grades of True, Mostly True, Half…

November 30, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“1% control the world.  4% are their puppets.  90% are asleep. 5% know and try to wake up the 90%”

"1% control the world. 4% are their puppets. 90% are asleep. 5% know and try to wake the 90%. The 1% use the 4% to prevent the 5% from waking up the 90%" is a saying that has been printed…

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

“10 out of 10 doctors agree with whoever is paying them”

"9/10 scientists will agree with whoever is paying them" was posted on Twitter by RRP on May 15, 2021. "10 out of 10 scientists agree with those who are paying them...." was…

October 27, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“13: I’m the worst number. 666: That’s cute. 2020: Hold my beer”

The year 2020 was not a good year for many people, since it included the coronavirus pandemic

April 19, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“1920: Alcohol is prohibited 2020: Marijuana stores are an essential business”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in the closures of non-essential businesses. Liquor stores -- and, in some states, marijuana stores -- were deemed essential businesses. "1920:…

July 6, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“1984 is not an instruction manual”

"1984 is not an instruction manual" has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and buttons. The saying became popular with the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 and…

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

“20 years from now kids are going to realize their quarantine haircuts were done by dad’s…”

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic led to quarantines and the closing of barber shops. Many people cut their hair at home. "20 years from now kids are going to realize their quarantine…

August 28, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“2019: Avoid negative people. 2020: Avoid positive people. 2021: Avoid people”

"2019: Avoid negative people. 2020: Avoid positive people. 2021: Avoid people" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The joke was told during the Covid-19 (coronavirus)…

May 18, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“2019: live, laugh, love. 2020: lather, rinse, repeat”

"Live, Laugh, Love" is a saying from a 1904 poem by Bessie Anderson Stanley. "Lather, rinse, repeat" is a saying about applying shampoo. The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic made…

December 16, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“2020 is still better than my first marriage”

The year 2020 was a difficult one for many because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. "2020 is still better than my first marriage" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many…

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

“2020: The year your wheelie bin goes out more than you”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in many people being quarantined in their homes. The garbage and recycling bins left the home more than many people. "2020: The year your wheelie…

April 6, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“404: Democracy not found”

"Error 404: Democracy not found" is a mock computer and anti-government saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been popularly used in protests all around the world.…

April 6, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“404: Freedom not found”

Entry in progress -- BP “Error 404: Democracy not found” is a related saying. Wikipedia: HTTP 404In computer network communications, the HTTP 404, 404 not found, 404, 404 error, page not found…

May 16, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“9/11 jokes aren’t funny. But the other 2 are”

Jokes about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center are numerous, although not politically correct. One popular joke is: "9/11 jokes aren't…

May 16, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“9/11 jokes aren’t funny. They’re just plane wrong”

Jokes about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center are numerous, although not politically correct. One popular joke is: "9/11 jokes aren't…

September 24, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“9/11 was an inside job”

"9/11 was an inside job" is a slogan of 9/11 "truthers" who believe that the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center were a false flag operation organized by the…

June 6, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A ‘conspiracy theorist’ is someone who figures out the truth before most people”

An image has been cited in print since at least May 28, 2022: DAUGHTER: "Mom, what's a conspiracy theorist?"MOTHER: "Somebody who figures out the truth before most people,…

June 11, 2018
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A bad lawyer can let a case drag out for several years. A good lawyer, for even longer”

A popular lawyer joke is: "What's the difference between a good lawyer and a bad lawyer? A bad lawyer can let a case drag on for years; a good lawyer can make it last even longer."…

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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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