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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,…

July 3, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They did not isolate a virus. They isolated you”

"They did not isolate a virus. They isolated you" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying refers to COVID-19 (coronavirus). "They did not isolate a virus. They…

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

“They divide with fear. We unite with courage”

Kulvinder Kaur MD posted these verses on Twitter on March 28, 2021: "They divide with fear. We unite with courage.They divide with politics. We unite with facts.They divide for control. We…

September 21, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They don’t have to say it’s martial law if they call it a quarantine”

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in some quarantines. Many people compared the quarantines to martial law. "THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT'S MARTIAL LAW IF THEY CALL IT A…

June 11, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They don’t like it when your authenticity is louder than their facade”

"They don't like it when your authenticity is louder than their facade" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was posted on Twitter by Damien The Poet on July…

January 23, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They don’t want you to have free speech. so they invented the term ‘hate speech’ to shut you up”

"They don't want you to have free speech. so they invented the term 'hate speech' to shut you up" is a saying that has been printed on an image. Barbed wire is shown over…

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

“They 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…

June 5, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They don’t want to ban guns. They want a monopoly on them”

"They don't want to ban guns. They just want a monopoly on them" was posted on Twitter by Nikki Moonitz on June 24, 2021. "They" refers to governments. "They…

November 11, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They gave their tomorrow for our today”

"They gave their tomorrow for our today" is a military saying (popular on Memorial Day) that has been printed on many images. “When you go home, tell them of us and say, ‘For your…

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

“They gave their tomorrows for our todays”

"They gave their tomorrows for our todays” is a military saying (popular on Memorial Day) that has been printed on many images. “When you go home, tell them of us and say, ‘For your…

July 31, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They only call it class war when we fight back”

"They only call it class war(fare) when we fight back" is a statement that has been printed on posters. The saying was popular at the Occupy Wall Street protests in the fall of 2011.…

April 28, 2024
Banking/Finance/InsuranceGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“They print more money causing inflation so you have to invest in assets…”

"They print more money causing inflation so you have to invest in assets. Then put a capital gains tax on those assets so you can never escape inflation" is a saying that has been printed…

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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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