The Big Apple
About Archives Categories Index Search
About Archives Categories Index Search

October 28, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Does anyone have any spare conspiracy theories? Mine are all coming true…”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic and plans for a "Great Reset" seemed to confirm the "conspiracy theories" of many people. "Does anyone have any spare conspiracy…

May 21, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Does anyone know if we can start taking showers yet? Or are we still just washing our hands?”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in many messages to wash hands, but what about taking showers? "Does anyone know if we can take a shower now, or we should keep just washing our…

August 25, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Does social distancing tack on six additional feet to each active restraining order?”

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic resulted in many social distancing requirements. Social distancing was compared to a restraining order. "I do my social distancing the old-fashioned way, usually…

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

“Doing my taxes and shaking my head the whole time so everyone knows I disagree with it”

Paying taxes is not pleasant, and many people shake their heads -- as if that somehow improves matters, or at least registers a disagreement. "Doing my taxes and shaking my head the whole time…

April 1, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Doing your taxes on April Fools’ Day seems like a legitimate way to defraud the government”

"Doing your taxes on April Fools' Day seems like a perfectly legitimate way to defraud the government" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on an ecard. The saying was…

August 3, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t agonize, organize”

"Don't agonize, organize" was a 1970s slogan of the women's movement, specifically the older women's movement for civil rights. Both Florynce Kennedy (1916-2000) and Tish…

August 15, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t ask why I need an AR-15. Ask why an IRS agent needs one”

“Why does anyone need an AR-15 rifle?” is a popular meme. It's sometimes explained that "need" doesn't have to be known because of the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights…

October 31, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t back no losers” (“Don’t make no waves, don’t back no losers”)

Milton L. Rakove's book, Don't make no waves; Don't back no losers: An insider's analysis of the Daley machine (1975), included these classic Chicago political rules: "I…

March 20, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t call me a ‘Conspiracy Theorist’. I prefer a ‘Connect the dots Specialist’”

"Instead of conspiracy theorist, I prefer to be called a connect the dots specialist" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Instead of 'Conspiracy Theorist', I…

March 25, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t call them illegal firearms. Call them undocumented weapons and let them live…”

"Undocumented" guns have been compared to "undocumented" Americans. "I don't have any 'assault weapons' - they are either defense weapons or undocumented…

February 25, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t Canada my America”

"Don't Canada my America/Florida/Texas" is a saying that has been printed on several images. Canada has many socialist programs, while states like Florida and Texas have been…

February 19, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Don’t change horses in the middle of the stream” (“Don’t swap horses in midstream”)

"Don't change horses in the middle of the stream" (or, "don't swap horses in midstream") means that once something has already started, it's too late to make…

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

“Don’t discriminate against my unvaccinated children. They were born that way”

One point made by people against vaccinations (such as Covid-19 vaccinations), is that unvaccinated is the "default" state. People were born that way. "Don't discriminate…

April 2, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t do anything yourself that someone else can do for you”

"Don't do anything yourself that someone else can do for you" is a quote that was attributed to Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) in June 1929. In The American Magazine and in his…

January 25, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time”

"Don't do the crime if you can't do the time" is a rhyming criminal justice expression. ""Don't commit the crime if you can't do the time" was called an…

October 4, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t follow the science, follow the money”

"Follow the money" is an old saying, used in politics and in business. "Follow the science" became a popular catchphrase during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Many people…

January 9, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t forget to pay your taxes this year. Other countries and politicians are depending on you!”

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…

January 9, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t forget to pay your taxes this year. Other countries are depending on you”

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…

May 2, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t get Covid-19. They are releasing Covid-20 in September and it’s much better”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was called COVID-19. Some people quickly assumed a COVID-20, as if it were a movie or a software release. "Breaking news: they just told me, don't get…

December 20, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Don’t get mad—get even”

"Don't get mad -- get even!" is often attributed to Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. (1888-1969), the father of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. In November 1966, Life magazine called…

First
Previous
35 36 37 38 39
Next
Last

About the Website and Editor

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.

Read more About the Website and Editor
About
Privacy Policy
RSS

© 2026 Barry Popik. All rights reserved.