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January 23, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Anyone who believes in exponential growth in a finite world is either a madman or an economist”

“Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist" is a quote that has been credited in 1973 to English-born American economist…

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

“Anything I don’t like should be banned. Everything I like should be a human right…”

"Anything I don't like should be banned, anything I like is a human right" was posted on Twitter by Murdos on August 16, 2015. “Anything I like should be mandatory, and anything I…

January 18, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Apparently, a cat has caught COVID-19. Don’t ask meow!”

A COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic joke is that a cat got Covid-19, or that a cat gave Covid-19 to its owner. The punchline: "Don't ask meow." ("Don't ask me how.")…

October 29, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“AR—means the gun was manufactured in Arkansas” (joke)

AR-15 and AK-47 are rifles, but they are not named after the postal codes for Arkansas (AR) and Alaska (AK). A joke (shown on a meme) was poste on Facebook by George Baylor on October 22, 2019:…

January 28, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Are birth control pills tax-deductible?”/“Only if they don’t work.”

What's tax deductible? There's an old joke: Q: Are birth control pills tax-deductible?A: Only if they don't work. In 1967, a newspaper article said that birth control pills are tax…

January 2, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Are there any countries that tax their citizens and send some of it to Americans?”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 originally planned for only $600 of relief to Americans, who had been suffering all year from the 2020 COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. However, the bill…

March 25, 2024
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry PopikGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /HealthNames/Phrases

“Are there doctors in New York since it’s called the Big Apple?”

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a famous saying. New York City is called the "Big Apple." "there are no doctors in New York because it’s the Big Apple" was…

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…

June 15, 2026
Buildings/Housing/ParksFood/DrinkGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /HealthRestaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food StoresTransportation

“As long as you don’t need gas or groceries or affordable housing and medical care, things aren’t so bad”

Inflation shows most noticeably in food prices and gas prices. A joke is that if you don't need food or gas, you're okay. "As long as you don’t need gas, groceries or retirement…

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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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