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August 14, 2021
Food/Drink

“If you can’t say anything nice, you obviously haven’t had your coffee yet”

"If you can't say anything nice, you obviously haven't had your coffee yet" (or "If you can't say anything nice, you haven't had enough coffee") is a coffee…

September 23, 2012
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“If you can’t say something nice, become a reporter”

"If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all" is advice given to the character Thumper in the Disney animated movie Bambi (1942). The proverbial saying is older…

October 31, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”

Entry in progress -- B.P. WikiquoteAlice Roosevelt Longworth (12 February 1884, in New York City, NY - 20 February 1980, in Washington D.C), was the only daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th…

March 2, 2009
Food/Drink

“If you can’t see water, don’t order fish”

'If you can't see water, don't order fish" means that fish won't be fresh if you're not near the source. For example, Florida might be a better state to eat seafood in…

October 3, 2014
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“If you can’t sell what you want, you sell what you can”

"Think again of LTCM – if you have to generate cash and you can’t sell what you want to sell, you sell what you can sell" was written by financial author Richard Bookstaber on his…

May 8, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If you can’t stand behind our troops, stand in front of them”

"If you can't/don't stand behind our troops, (feel free to) stand in front of them" is a patriotic saying that has been put on gift items such as bumper stickers and T-shirts.…

January 14, 2009
Food/Drink

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikiquote: Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945–1953); as vice president, he…

September 26, 2020
Food/Drink

“If you can’t stand watching it be produced, you shouldn’t be eating it”

"If you can't stand watching it be/being produced, you shouldn't be eating it" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Many people can't stand watching how animal…

September 26, 2020
Food/Drink

“If you can’t stand watching it being produced. you shouldn’t be eating it”

"If you can't stand watching it be/being produced, you shouldn't be eating it" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Many people can't stand watching how animal…

December 17, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If you can’t take their money…and vote against them, you don’t belong in the legislature”

"If you can't take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and vote against 'em anyway, you don't belong in the Legislature" is a quote by Molly Ivins…

July 25, 2017
Food/Drink

“If you can’t tell a spoon from a ladle, then you’re fat!”

"If you can't tell a spoon from a ladle, then you're fat!" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. New York-born comedian Demetri Martin said on the comedy…

July 28, 2024
Food/DrinkGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /HealthRestaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“If you can’t tell the difference between delivery and DiGiorno, then you shouldn’t be allowed to vote”

DiGiorno brand frozen pizza advertises, "It's not delivery. It's DiGiorno." Many people, however, believe that no one should be confused between delivery and DiGiorno. "If…

July 28, 2024
Food/DrinkRestaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“If you can’t tell the difference between delivery and DiGiorno, there’s a good chance you’ve been fooled by a tranny once or twice too”

DiGiorno brand frozen pizza advertises, "It's not delivery. It's DiGiorno." Many people, however, believe that no one should be confused between delivery and DiGiorno. "If…

March 12, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If you can’t trust people to govern themselves, how can you trust them to govern others?”

"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he then be trusted with the government of others?" was said by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) at his…

November 18, 2011
Sports/Games

“If you can’t win, make the fellow ahead of you break the record”

"If you can't win, make the fellow ahead of you break the record" is a popular adage in track and field. The saying means that if you can't win, you at least know that the…

May 23, 2020
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“If you can’t drink for three, please leave your place for the professionals” (bar sign)

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic closed many bars for an extended period. When the bars were allowed to open up again, many opened at limited capacity. A sign was displayed at a French bar:…

April 21, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“If you can’t expose crime in the government, you don’t really have a government. You have a dictatorship…”

"If you can’t expose crime in the government, you don’t really have a government. You have a dictatorship that is dressed up like a government" is a saying that has been printed on…

February 25, 2017
Food/Drink

“If you can’t fix it with duct tape or a martini, it ain’t worth fixing”

"If you can’t fix it with duct tape or a martini, it ain’t worth fixing" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on several images. "If you can't fix it with duct…

June 18, 2025
Sports/Games

“If you can’t hear a pin drop, then something is definitely wrong with your bowling”

"Sign in the bowling alley: 'If you can't hear a pin drop there's something wrong with your bowling'" was printed in the Ord (NE) Quiz on March 13, 1958. "If you…

June 8, 2015
Work/Businesses

“If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it”

"If you can't stop thinking about it, don't stop working for it" isa motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. "If you can't stop thinking about it,…

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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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