The Big Apple
About Archives Categories Index Search
About Archives Categories Index Search

August 3, 2026
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People don’t lie to you because the truth will hurt your feelings…”

"They don’t lie to you because the truth will hurt your feelings. They lie to you because the truth might provoke you to make choices that won’t serve their interest(s)" is a saying…

April 26, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People end up a skunk, monk, drunk, chunk, or hunk” (State Department saying)

It's said about a person living abroad that he or she returns a skunk, a monk, a drunk, a chunk or a hunk. "Hunks, Monks Chunks & Drunks" was cited in print in November 2007, in…

May 12, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t conquer”

"People fear what they don't understand/know" ("fear of the unknown") has been cited in print since at least the 1910s and is of no specific authorship. The saying has been…

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

“People getting off house arrest now must really be pissed off” (2019–20 coronavirus pandemic)

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in home lockdowns -- similar to house arrest. "I JUST got off house arrest, if we go on a state wide lock down ima be pissed" was posted on…

November 15, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“People give their lives just so that a few fat cats can make a killing”

The Sicilian American mobster Sam Giancana (1908-1975), according to the documentary JFK to 9/11: Everything Is a Rich Man's Trick (2014), said: "People give their lives just so that a…

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

“People have become so brainwashed that they think health comes from masks and needles”

The 2020 COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in the wearing of face masks and vaccines. "people have become so brainwashed that they think health comes from masks & needles" was…

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

“People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do”

"Men/People may doubt what you say, but they will (always) believe what you do" means that actions count for more than just talk. The saying has been credited to American military officer…

May 9, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People must not cough near you, they must cough far away…” (“far cough”)

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic made people socially distance and wear face masks. "Far cough" ("fuck off") was a popular joke. "Far cough" has been cited in print…

February 11, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People not liking you isn’t oppression”

"People not liking you isn't oppression" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Some people think that everyone must like them and agree with their opinions. "People…

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

“People of quality do not fear equality”

"Men/People of quality don't fear equality" is a saying that has been printed on many images. This message has been painted on signs at women's rights marches and LGBTQ pride…

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

“People of quality don’t fear equality”

"Men/People of quality don't fear equality" is a saying that has been printed on many images. This message has been painted on signs at women's rights marches and LGBTQ pride…

March 6, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthTime/Weather

“People say ‘time heals all wounds,’ but have you ever seen a clock perform surgery?”

"Time heals all wounds" is an old saying that might or might not be true. This joke was posted on X/Twitter by Princess Buttercup on May 23, 2014, and it received over 7,500 likes:…

March 10, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People used to cough to cover up a fart. Now they fart to cover up a cough!” (virus joke)

"Cough fart ... When someone coughs to hide a fart with devious intent" was entered in the Urban Dictionary on December 2, 2010. The 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak reversed this.…

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

“People vote their resentment, not their appreciation”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: William B. MunroWilliam Bennett Munro (1875 – 1957) was a Canadian social scientist and eugenicist. 14 November 1923, Oregonian (Portland, OR), "Outlook…

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

“People who are enjoying lockdown have ‘stuck home’ syndrome”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic caused many people to be stuck at home. "Stuck home syndrome" (for Stockholm syndrome) was a popular pun, although it had been used earlier. "In a…

March 29, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People who are quarantining in jeans: what are you trying to prove”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreakThe 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute…

December 6, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People who complain about taxes can be divided into two classes: men and women”

"People who complain about taxes can be divided into two classes: men and women" is an old joke showing that everybody complains about taxes. The joke has been cited since at least 1944,…

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

“People who don’t have tattoos have a right to bare arms”

The Second Amendment "right to bear arms" has nothing to do with "bears" or "bare arms," but there are several tattoo jokes. "Going to the tattoo shop to forfeit…

October 20, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People who don’t work have no right to tell people who do work that they aren’t paying enough taxes”

"People who don't work have no right to tell people who do work that they aren't paying enough taxes" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "PEOPLE WHO…

March 8, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“People who need leaders aren’t fit to choose them”

"Those who need leaders are not qualified to choose them" is a saying that has been printed on many images. That is, according to the speaker, someone who needs a leader is weak and is…

First
Previous
130 131 132 133 134
Next
Last

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.

Read more About the Website and Editor
About
Privacy Policy
RSS

© 2026 Barry Popik. All rights reserved.