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July 5, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There, I guess King George will be able to read that!” (John Hancock?)

John Hancock (1737-1793) was president of Congress when the Declaration of Independence was adopted; he signed the document with a large signature in the center, supposedly saying: "There, I…

July 3, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s a certain irony to getting married on Independence Day”

Some people get married on Independence Day (July 4th). "@kevinthompson and the irony is you get married on Independence Day !" was posted on Twitter by A Witty Remark on December 13,…

September 15, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s always work at the post office”

In the 1987 film Hollywood Shuffle, Bobby Taylor's (the actor-director Robert Townsend) grandmother tells him that if his Hollywood dreams don't work out, "There's always work…

August 4, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s no business like Shoah business”

"Shoah" is a Hebrew word for "Holocaust." Irving Berlin wrote the song "There's No Business Like Show Business" for the 1940s musical Annie Get Your Gun, and this…

March 28, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s no plan to fix anything because the plan was to destroy everything”

"There's no plan to fix anything because the plan was to destroy everything" is a saying that has been printed on many images. <…

November 12, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s no such thing as a routine traffic stop” (police adage)

"There's no such thing as a routine traffic stop" is a police adage. Police don't know the type of person they are pulling over and have to prepare for the unexpected.…

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

“There’s no such thing as government. It’s just other individuals telling you what to do”

"There's no such thing as government. It's just other individuals telling you what to do" was posted on Twitter by Richard Heart on September 1, 2022. The tweet had over 2,200…

November 3, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s no way like the American way. World’s highest standard of living”

Entry in progress -- BP Wikipedia: American wayThe American way of life or the American way refers to the American nationalist ethos that adheres to the principle of life, liberty and the pursuit…

October 30, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s not one dime’s worth of difference in the two parties”

"Not a dime's worth of difference" means that there is no difference. When comparing two products, one might cost a dime more; the more expensive product is expected to be better or…

May 20, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s now an avian strain of coronavirus. One flu over the cuckoo’s nest”

A Covid-19 (coronavirus) joke was posted on Sickipedia on May 20, 2021: "There's now an avian strain of coronavirus. One flu over the cuckoo's nest." Wikipedia: COVID-19…

May 8, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“There’s no such thing as government funded. It’s all taxpayer funded”

"There’s no such thing as government funded. It’s all taxpayer funded" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The exact authorship is unknown, but memes have been popular…

March 17, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“These days govt. is a four-letter word”

"These days govt. is a four-letter word" means that "govt." (government) can be obscene. "These govt. is a four letter word" (the word "days" appears to be…

July 3, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They always call it a conspiracy, but they never call it a lie”

"They always call it a conspiracy, but they never call it a lie" is a saying that has been printed on an image. That is, the term "conspiracy" is meant to disparage what someone…

August 20, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They are not after your guns. They are after you. The guns are just in the way”

"They are not after your guns. They are after you. The guns are just in the way" is a pro-gun saying that became popular (in several different forms) in September 2019. "RT…

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

“They are not after your guns. They are after you. Your guns are just in their way”

"They are not after your guns. They are after you. The guns are just in the way" is a pro-gun saying that became popular (in several different forms) in September 2019. "RT…

August 2, 2026
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They call it socialism because you get to socialize with people while you wait in line for bread”

"They call it socialism because you get to socialize with people while you wait in line for bread" is a saying that has been printed on several images. Socialism is an economic and…

July 26, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They came to do good and stayed to do well” (Washington bureaucrats/politicians)

An old saying of Washington, D.C., is that a politician or a bureaucrat "came to do good and stayed to do well." In other words, the individual came to do good (for others), but stayed to…

March 29, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They can’t balance the budget, but they all become millionaires”

"Politicians -- They can't balance the budget, but they all become millionaires" (or "They can't balance the budget, but they're all millionaires") is a saying…

March 29, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They can’t balance the budget, but they’re all millionaires”

"Politicians -- They can't balance the budget, but they all become millionaires" (or "They can't balance the budget, but they're all millionaires") is a saying…

June 4, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They cheated in the last election. Better vote them out this time”

"They cheated in the last election. Better vote them out this time" is an elections joke that has been printed on a popular image. The meme was posted on Twitter by Gene719 on April 20,…

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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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