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

May 1, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The Department of Health is seeking married people to educate on social distancing”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in social distancing requirements. Many long-married people had prior experience with this. "Irish couples married more than 7 years being hired by…

January 29, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The devil makes his Christmas pie of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers”

"The devil makes his Christmas pie of lawyers' tongues and clerks' fingers" is often said to be an old English proverb, but it appears to be an Italian proverb. John Florio…

September 9, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The difference between a democracy and a people’s democracy” (joke)

Austrian Socialist leader Bruno Pittermann (1905-1983) said in 1961: "The difference between a democracy and a 'people's democracy' is the difference between a jacket and a…

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

“The difference between a gang and a state is the belief that there is a difference…”

"There is no difference between a gang and a state" was posted on Twitter by Rahman Hussin on March 14, 2012. "Re gang violence: What is the difference between a gang and a state…

May 14, 2018
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The difference between a rebellion and a revolution is which side wins”

"The difference between (a) rebellion and (a) revolution is which side wins" is a saying that has been printed on several images. A "rebellion" is usually unsuccessful and a…

December 9, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets”

"Death and taxes" are two things that have been called inevitable. Syndicated newspaper wit Robert Quillen (1887-1948) wrote many jokes about "the difference between death and…

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

“The difference between golf and government is that in golf you can’t improve your lie”

"The difference between golf and government is that in golf you can't improve your lie" is a joke that plays on the meanings of "lie" ("to not tell the truth" or…

August 19, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The difference between the Boy Scouts and the Army is that the Scouts have adult supervision”

"The difference between the Boy Scouts and the Army is that the Scouts have adult supervision" is a joke that was cited in a 1970 book about he Vietnam War. "Army" is often…

April 23, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The difference between the government and thieves is that thieves don’t pretend they’re helping”

Entry in progress -- B.P Twitter((( Segen )))@StatistSmackerThe only thing between #government and thieves, is that thieves don't pretend they're helping you.5:43 PM · Sep 9,…

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

“The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer”

“The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer" was a popular slogan of United States armed forces in World War II, cited from 1942. The saying appears to have been…

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

“The dinosaurs didn’t ‘rule the earth,’ they were just alive. Stop giving them credit for administrative skills…”

It's often said that dinosaurs once ruled the earth. "The dinosaurs didn’t 'rule the earth,' they were just alive. Stop giving them credit for administrative skills they…

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

“The DMV be like you forgot to bring the Declaration of Independence”

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is known for long lines, and people are often frustrated when they finally get to the front of the line, only to be told that they have to come back with more…

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

“The DMV be like you forgot to bring the original copy of the Constitution”

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is known for long lines, and people are often frustrated when they finally get to the front of the line, only to be told that they have to come back with more…

April 9, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The dollar votes more times than the man”

"The dollar votes more times than the man" means that one person has only one vote, but one rich person can use his or her money to influence the vote many times. American political…

December 28, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The dots are practically almost touching each other, and people still cannot connect them”

"The dots are practically almost touching each other, and people still cannot connect them" is a saying that has been printed on several images. The saying usually applies to the COVID-19…

December 28, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The dots are practically touching and some people still can’t connect them”

"The dots are practically almost touching each other, and people still cannot connect them" is a saying that has been printed on several images. The saying usually applies to the COVID-19…

October 5, 2024
Food/DrinkGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /HealthWork/Businesses

“The drinking will continue until the economy improves”

"The drinking will continue until the economy improves" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. “The firings/floggings/beatings will continue until morale improves”…

March 28, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The duration of a mass shooting depends entirely on the proximity of a second gun”

A mass shooting stops if a second gun or (a third gun) is close by, either owned by a private citizen or by police. "The duration of a mass shooting is dependent upon the proximity of a second…

March 28, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The duration of a mass shooting is dependent upon the proximity of a second gun”

A mass shooting stops if a second gun or (a third gun) is close by, either owned by a private citizen or by police. "The duration of a mass shooting is dependent upon the proximity of a second…

March 28, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The duration of a mass shooting is determined by the proximity of a second gun”

A mass shooting stops if a second gun or (a third gun) is close by, either owned by a private citizen or by police. "The duration of a mass shooting is dependent upon the proximity of a second…

First
Previous
156 157 158 159 160
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.