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January 22, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Coincidence is the word we use when we can’t see the levers and the pulleys”

American science fiction and fantasy author Emma Bull wrote in the novel Bone Dance: A Fantasy for Technophiles (1991): "Coincidence is the word we use when we can't see the levers and…

August 6, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Coinciditis—Myocarditis that coincidentally only affects the vaccinated”

"Coinciditis -- Myocarditis that coincidentally only affects the vaccinated" is a saying that has been shown on many images. The word "coinciditis" (coincidence + -itis) refers…

April 12, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery”

"Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery" is a saying that has been attributed to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) and that has been printed on…

January 29, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Colonel Sanders chicken recipe has been kept more secure than US classified documents”

A possession of classified documents story in January 2023 involved U.S. President Joe Biden, just as a similar story had involved former president Donald Trump. It was joked that the secret KFC…

June 14, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Colt: The original point and click interface”

"The original point and click interface" (a gun) is a pro-gun saying that has been printed on many images. "Smith & Wesson: the original point-and-click interface" was…

September 24, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthTransportation

“Come the Rapture, can I have your car?” (bumper sticker)

"Come the Rapture, can I have your car?" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "IN CASE OF RAPTURE, CAN I HAVE YOUR CAR?" was posted on the newsgroup…

February 21, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Come-to-Jesus” Meeting

"Come to Jesus" (and the "come to Jesus meeting") was an early 20th century Christian message, often spread by traveling preachers who held tent meetings. A different and later…

May 15, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Committee work is like a soft chair—easy to get into but hard to get out of”

"Committee work is like a soft chair -- easy to get into but hard to get out of" is a jocular saying about committees. "Committee work is easy to get into but hard to get out of --…

November 25, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Committees have become so important nowadays that subcommittees have to be appointed to do work”

"Committees have become so important that a subcommittee has to be appointed to do the work" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least April 1964, when it was…

October 28, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it”

"Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it (the) most never use it" (or "Common sense is like deodorant. Those who need it most never use it) is a saying that has been…

October 28, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Common sense is like deodorant. Those who need it most never use it”

"Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it (the) most never use it" (or "Common sense is like deodorant. Those who need it most never use it) is a saying that has been…

September 6, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Common sense should reveal the absolute absurdity of what is happening in the world right now”

"The truth is, you shouldn't even need to research at this point. Common sense should reveal the absolute absurdity of what is happening in the world right now" is a saying that has…

April 27, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff”

"Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff" is a saying that has been printed on many images, credited to American musician, composer and bandleader Frank Zappa…

February 8, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Communism is the opiate of the intellectuals”

Karl Marx (1818-1883) wrote in 1843: "It (religion -- ed.) is the opium of the people." The quotation is often given as: "Religion is the opium/opiate of the masses/people."…

April 24, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Communism is when ugly deformed freaks make it illegal to be normal then rob and/or kill all successful people…”

A statement about communism was posted on X/Twitter -- now no longer available -- by Mystery Grove Publishing Co. @MysteryGrove on September 15, 2021: "Reminder: Communism is when ugly…

January 16, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Communism, it works 100% of the time, 0% of the time”

"Communism, it works 100% of the time, 0% of the time" was posted on X/Twitter by mds on January 7, 2014. That is to say, communism does not work. "Socialism: Works 100% Of The Time,…

June 6, 2018
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Communism: Ideas so good they have to be mandatory”

"Authoritarianism/ Communism/ Government/ Liberalism/ Marxism/ Progressivism/ Socialism/ Statism: Ideas so good, they have to be mandatory" is a political saying that has been printed on…

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

“Communism: You masked for it”

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in many requirements to wear face masks. "Communism: You masked for it" (a pun on "you asked for it") was written on a sign by a…

February 18, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Communists aren’t people. They’re state property”

"Communists aren't people. They're state property" is what a communist view might be. "Communists aren’t people, they’re state property and must be disposed of"…

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

“Compliancy Theorist: One who believes nothing bad will ever happen as long as one complies hard enough”

The term "compliancy theorist" was invented to be the opposite of a "conspiracy theorist." While a conspiracy theorist questions the system, a compliancy theorist accepts and…

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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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