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March 20, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Taxpayer: Someone who works for the government but doesn’t have to take a civil service exam”

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) said in June 1965: ""A taxpayer? That's someone who works for the government who doesn't have to take a civil service exam." The quip has been…

June 23, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Tea parties are for little girls with imaginary friends”

"Tea parties are for little girls with imaginary friends" is an anti-tea party political saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as bumper stickers, hats and T-shirts. The…

April 15, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Teach your children about taxes—eat 30% of their ice cream”

"Teach your children about taxes -- eat 30% of their ice cream" is a jocular saying that has been printed on ecards and posters. The joke was first told by American television host and…

June 3, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Teacher: What sound do pigs make? Student: FREEZE!”

"Pig" is slang for a policeman, and this is used in a popular joke. A teacher asks her class (Detroit is often the location), "What sound does a cat make?" "Meow!"…

August 26, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Technically, a lawless state would be crime free”

"Lawless" usually describes those who don't follow laws, but it could also mean that there are no laws. A joke was posted on Reddit -- Shower Thoughts on August 26, 2017:…

October 24, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Technically, all national anthems are country music”

A national anthem is, technically, "country" music. "No matter the musical style, a nation's national anthem is 'country music' Daily Jumble in 1:14, score 1115"…

February 25, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthRadio/Television

“Ten seconds of drug commercials are spent telling you what the drug is for and the rest is spent basically daring you to take it”

"Ever notice that the first 10 seconds of a medical drug commercial is spent telling you what the drug is for and the rest basically daring you to take it?" is a saying that has been…

September 26, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Ten-hut!” or “A-ten-hut!” (“attention” command)

"Ten-hut!" is what a military drill sergeant might say, meaning "Attention!" "'Ten-Hut,' which is the new way of saying 'Attention'" was printed in…

February 17, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Term limits - one term in office and one term in jail”

"Term Limits For Congress; 1 Term In Office and 1 Term In Jail" is a saying on coffee mugs (and other products). The saying has existed since at least 1992 (when term limits became a…

July 19, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Terrorism is the poor man’s war” (“War is the rich man’s terrorism”)

The actor/writer Peter Ustinov (1921-2004) wrote in 2003, "Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich." The term "terrorism is the poor man's…

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

“Testing yourself constantly for disease when you have no symptoms is a form of mental illness”

Entry in progress -- BP TwitterZUBY:@ZubyMusicTesting yourself constantly for disease when you have no symptoms is a form of mental illness.10:27 AM · Dec 21, 2021·Twitter for Android…

March 20, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Text without context is pretext”

"A text without a context is a pretext" has been popularized by Rev. Jesse Jackson and theologian D.A. Carson, but the saying dates to at least 1912 and has long been popular with…

January 5, 2026
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Thank god attorneys let us know they’re attorneys ‘at law’ so we don’t assume they’re attorneys at garlic bread or something”

"Attorney at law" means that this person is qualified to represent someone in a court of law, but some people believe that the "at law" is not needed. This was posted on…

December 9, 2006
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“That dog won’t hunt” (LBJ)

President Lyndon B. Johnson said "that dog won't hunt" in the 1960s. The ultimate origin of the phrase (used since at least the 1930s) is unknown, but LBJ certainly popularized it.…

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

“That face mask you were duped into wearing symbolizes you losing your freedom of speech”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic required many people to wear face masks. "That Face Mask you were duped into wearing symbolizes you loosing your Freedom of Speech" was written on a…

May 13, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“That face you make after they take your guns” (skulls)

"THAT FACE YOU MAKE AFTER THEY TAKE YOUR GUNS" (shown on an image, with several skulls) was posted on Facebook by Socialism Kills on May 5, 2023. That is, when you give up your guns,…

July 13, 2026
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“That scroll to find your year of birth is becoming increasingly offensive smh”

People are often required to scroll down for their birth year. For old people, it can be a lot of scrolling. "You know you're getting old when you have to scroll down to find your birth…

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

“The ‘h’ in Democrat stands for honesty”

"The 'h' in Democrat stands for honesty" is a Republican saying that has been printed on many images. "The H in Democrat stands for Honesty" was posted on Twitter by…

January 3, 2018
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The #MeToo movement is supposed to be empowering, but why PoundMeToo?”

"#MeToo" became popular on social media in October 2017, as a response to several high-profile sexual assault and harassment allegations in the United States. "Someone I work with…

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

“The 12 Days of 2020” (song parody)

The 2020 COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in many changes to the classic song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," often called "The 12 Days of Corona" or "The 12 Days…

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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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