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

May 9, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Some men are wise and some are otherwise”

"Some (men) are wise and some are otherwise" has been cited in print since at least 1659, when it was listed in James Howell's Proverbs. "Some are wise, and some are…

December 23, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Some of my best friends are Jews”

"Some of my best friends are..." has been a popular meme for over 100 years. While the speaker is not that type of person, he or she has friends of that type. Therefore, any criticism…

September 27, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Some of y’all are going to keep trusting the Government until your pronouns are ‘was/were’”

"Some of y’all are going to keep trusting the Government until your pronouns are ‘was/were'" (or "Some of y’all are gonna keep trusting the Government until your pronouns…

September 27, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Some of y’all are gonna keep trusting the Government until your pronouns are ‘was/were’”

"Some of y’all are going to keep trusting the Government until your pronouns are ‘was/were'" (or "Some of y’all are gonna keep trusting the Government until your pronouns…

April 11, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Some of y’all have never had a second cop car pull up and it really shows”

"Some of y’all have never had a second cop car pull up and it really shows" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images A second cop car means that backup is needed, and…

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

“Some people want to check government spending and some people want to spend government checks”

"Some people want to check government spending and some people want to spend government checks" was a favorite line of Ronald Reagan (1911-2004). According to Reagan, the Republicans want…

July 19, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Some people wouldn’t know tyranny if it covered their faces, locked them in their homes…”

"Some people wouldn't know tyranny if it covered their faces, locked them in their homes, enacted the biggest wealth transfer in history, censored them, made them show papers and force…

April 15, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Some people write ‘lockdown’ because they can’t spell Kwarinteen”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in lockdowns/quarantines. "Some people write lockdown because they can't spell kwarinteen" was posted on Facebook by Äł Bina on April…

June 21, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Somebody has to do something, and it’s just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us”

Jerry Garcia (1942-1995), an American musician and member of the Grateful Dead band, supported efforts in 1988 to save the world's rain forests. On September 13, 1988, at the United Nations…

March 7, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthTime/Weather

“Someone told me that time heals all wounds…GREAT! I’m gonna go buy a clock and skip all those pesky doctor bills”

"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:…

September 8, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sometimes I sits and thinks, and then again I just sits”

"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits" is a jocular saying about an old person, but has been used to describe any person of inaction (such as someone in government). The…

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

“Sometimes 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…

November 20, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on”

“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it" is often credited to American author Mark Twain, the pen name of…

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

“Sometimes opening your eyes may be the most painful thing you ever have to do”

"Sometimes opening your eyes may be the most painful thing you ever have to do" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying probably originated on a meme in December…

June 8, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sometimes reasonable men must do unreasonable things”

Marvin Heemeyer (1951-2004) had a dispute with the town of Granby, Colorado, and he didn't see any way that it was being resolved. He bought a bulldozer (dubbed the "Killdozer") and…

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

“Sometimes someone unexpected comes into your life outta nowhere, makes your heart race…”

"Sometimes someone unexpected comes into your life outta nowhere, makes your heart race and changes you forever... We call these people cops" is a jocular saying that has been printed on…

September 2, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sometimes the best medicine grows from weeds”

"Sometimes the best medicine grows from weeds" is a saying that has been printed on several images. "Sometimes the best medicine grows from weeds" (shown on an image) was posted…

July 27, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sometimes you have to be your own hero”

"Sometimes you have to be your own hero" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Nobody is coming to save you. Get up, (and) be your own hero" is a related saying…

March 10, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sometimes your freedom is not taken away at gunpoint, but instead it is done one piece of paper…”

Cuban-American poet, diplomat and former political prisoner Armando Valladares received the Canterbury Medal from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and gave this speech on May 12, 2016:…

August 24, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Somewhere, someone is showering with a mask on. I just know it”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in many requirements to wear face masks. Many people wore the masks even at home. "Somewhere, someone is showering with a mask on. I just know…

First
Previous
145 146 147 148 149
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.