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July 2, 2024
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Being popular on TikTok is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital”

"Being popular on Facebook is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital" is a saying that has been printed on many images. There have been variations for other…

July 4, 2024
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Being popular on tumblr is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital”

"Being popular on Facebook is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital" is a saying that has been printed on many images. There have been variations for other…

July 5, 2024
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Being popular on Twitter is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital”

"Being popular on Facebook is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital" is a saying that has been printed on many images. There have been variations for other…

July 2, 2024
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Being popular on X is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital”

"Being popular on Facebook is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital" is a saying that has been printed on many images. There have been variations for other…

April 27, 2022
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Beware of he who would deny you access to information…”

"Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master" is a saying that has been printed on many images. It is from the video game Sid…

April 23, 2021
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Big Apple” in East Village Other (1968-1971)

East Village Other (EVO) was published in New York City from October 1, 1965 until March 1, 1972. It was one of America's most influential underground newspapers of this period. "Big…

May 2, 2025
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry PopikMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Big Apple” query and Ask Jeeves search engine (1999)

The search engine Ask Jeeves (Ask.com) advertised in November 1999 by putting stickers on fruit. A person picking up an apple, for example, was encouraged to go to Ask Jeeves and ask, "Why is…

June 4, 2026
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Bluesky is Iike the smoking area for social media”

Smoking areas are special places where people can feed an addiction. This has been compared to social media. "Twitter is like the smoking area of social media networks" was posted on…

July 29, 2024
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/InternetWork/Businesses

“Both X and SpaceX are moving to Texas and not ONE JOURNALIST went with the headline ‘All My Xes Live In Texas?’”

Businessman and investor Elon Musk announced in 2024 his intention of moving his companies X (formerly called Twitter) and SpaceX to Texas. "Excuse me -- both X and SpaceX are moving to Texas…

January 16, 2026
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“British people be like ‘YouChube’”

People in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, pronounce "YouTube" like "YouChoob" or "YouChube." "YouChoob" was printed in the San Francisco (CA)…

November 24, 2021
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Bugs Bunny won’t accept any files through WeTransfer or Google Drive. Use a WhatsApp doc”

WhatsApp (an instant messaging and voice-over-IP service) has nothing to do with Bugs Bunny and his famous catchphrase "What's up, doc?," but there are jokes. "Cuál es la App…

September 13, 2011
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Bury the lede” (“Bury the lead”)

"Bury(ing) the lead/lede" in a newspaper article means that the important part of the article is several paragraphs down -- where many newspaper readers might not catch it. A poor…

November 25, 2020
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“But if that was true it would be on the news”

"If that was/were true it would be on the news" is a saying that occurs to some people when told of some event (child trafficking, food and vaccine safety, political corruption and more).…

June 21, 2016
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Can a news story electrocute somebody? The answer may shock you”

News teasers often present a little bit of the story with a question, and then state, "The answer may shock you." Amir Blumenfeld made a joke of this when he tweeted on September 1, 2015:…

April 30, 2023
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Can someone tell me what the National Constipation Society have been tweeting about? I’m blocked”

When people are "blocked" (on social media such as Twitter), this has nothing to do with constipation, but there are jokes. "Can someone tell me what the National Constipation…

July 31, 2016
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Can we eliminate clickbait journalism? The answer may surprise you”

News teasers often present a little bit of the story with a question, and then state, “The answer may surprise you.” “How Many Clickbait Emoporn Headlines Will It Take To Ruin The Entire…

November 5, 2020
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Can you buy clothes pegs online?” (joke)

"Online" should not be confused with "on line" (like a clothesline, with clothes pegs). "Can you buy clothes pegs online?" was posted on Facebook by Chris Wright on…

November 3, 2020
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Can you tell me when the next train is coming?”/“Look online.” (“on line” pun)

"Online" (on the internet) is different than "on line" (as in a train track). "So i said to this bloke how can i find out when's the next train. He said look online i…

June 7, 2017
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Can’t find your children?  Try turning off the wifi.  They appear suddenly”

"Can't find your children? Try turning off the wifi. They appear suddenly" is a jocular one-line saying about wifi that has been printed on many images. The saying was posted on…

July 24, 2013
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Cancel my subscription—I don’t need your issues”

"Cancel my subscription -- I don't need your issues" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and bumper stickers. The saying takes a…

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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.

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