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October 10, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Are we really going to let a bunch of greedy selfish fools do-in this whole planet?”

"Are we really going to let a bunch of greedy selfish fools do-in this whole planet?" (shown on a protest sign) has been printed on many images. The saying was used in June 2011 during…

June 9, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Are you an N95 mask? Cause I want you on my face” (pickup line)

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in some requirements to wear face masks. "Are you my face mask? because i want you on my face" was posted on Twitter by illmiora, the…

November 7, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Aren’t you supposed to call a doctor if your election lasts this long?”

Men using a product such as Viagra are often warned about priapism -- that those with an erection lasting longer than four hours should see a doctor. This "erection" advice has been used…

May 16, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than…”

"Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to…

February 28, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Armed women scare weak men”

"Armed women scare weak men" is a pro-gun saying that has been printed on many images. "Armed women scare weak men" (shown on an image) was posted on Facebook by Blacked Out…

June 4, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Arms are for hugging” (anti-nuke, gun control slogan)

"Arms are for hugging" is an anti-nuke and anti-gun ("arms") slogan that has been printed on many images. The anti-nuke version appears to be from 1976, and the anti-gun version…

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

“Arms change. Rights don’t”

"Arms change. Rights don't" is a pro-gun (pro-Second Amendment and right to bear arms) saying that has been printed on many images, often with founding father Thomas Jefferson. The…

March 11, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Army Wife: Toughest job in the Army”

"Army Wife: Toughest job in the Army" is a slogan that has appeared on many gift items, such as bumper stickers and T-shirts. "Army wife: It's the toughest job in the…

January 27, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“As government expands, liberty contracts”

"There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts," said President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) in his…

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

“As government grows, liberty decreases”

"as government grows/increases, liberty decreases/recedes/yields" is frequently credited to Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), but he never wrote it. Jefferson did write in 1788: "The…

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

“As I watch this generation try to rewrite history, one thing I’m sure of…. it will be misspelled”

"As I watch this generation try to rewrite history, one thing I’m sure of...it will be misspelled and have no punctuation" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "As I…

February 2, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“As Iowa goes, so goes Iowa” (Iowa caucus as bellwether)

"As Maine goes, so goes the nation" is an old political saying from the 1800s. In 1972, the Iowa caucus became the first political event of the U.S. presidential election. The winner of…

January 4, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“As Maine goes, so goes the nation”

"As goes Maine, so goes the nation" usually means that the winner of Maine's presidential vote will win the presidential election. This was not the original form of the phrase, nor…

April 30, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“As soon as I put on my hospital gown, I knew the end was in sight”

Hospital gowns usually are tied in the back, often leaving one's rear end exposed. "As soon as they put me in a hospital gown I knew my end was in sight" was posted on Twitter by B-P…

April 30, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“As soon as they put me in a hospital gown, I knew my end was in sight”

Hospital gowns usually are tied in the back, often leaving one's rear end exposed. "As soon as they put me in a hospital gown I knew my end was in sight" was posted on Twitter by B-P…

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

“As summer approaches, do we dig out our shorts or cut the legs off our pajamas?”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic saw people quarantine in their homes -- where many wore pajamas all day. "As summer arrives, do we dig out shorts or do we just cut the legs off our…

September 3, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Ash heap of history” (“Scrap heap of history,” “Garbage heap of history,” “Dustbin of history”)

U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) described, in a speech on June 8, 1982, before the British Parliament, "the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the…

October 10, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Ask your doctor if a soft-kill bioweapon is right for you”

Many pharmaceutical advertisements include the line, "Ask your doctor or pharmacist if [product] is right for you." There have been many mock ads made. "May cause 1271 side-effects,…

October 10, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Ask your pharmacist if a soft kill bio-weapon is right for you”

Many pharmaceutical advertisements include the line, "Ask your doctor or pharmacist if [product] is right for you." There have been many mock ads made. "May cause 1271 side-effects,…

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

“Asking government to fix government is like asking cancer to cure cancer”

"Asking government to fix government is like asking cancer to cure cancer" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Unfortunately asking government to fix itself is a lot…

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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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