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

“Before serving your country, first learn who your government is serving”

"Before serving your country, first learn who your government is serving" is a saying that has been printed on many images. That is, the government might be serving corporate masters and…

June 23, 2020
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Before social media, all of this nonsense just stayed in people’s heads”

"It's so crazy/scary/strange/weird to think that before Facebook/Twitter/Social Media, all this nonsense/shit just stayed in our heads" is a saying that has been printed on many…

April 17, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Before something great happens, everything falls apart”

"Before something great happens, everything falls apart" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. “@trvpshay: before something great happens, everything falls…

November 26, 2019
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Before the movie starts, it’s just 50 people sitting in the dark eating corn”

When people go out to watch a movie, they often buy popcorn and start eating it before the movie starts. "Before the movie starts, it’s just 50 people sitting in the dark eating corn"…

September 15, 2022
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Before there was Auto-Tune, there was talent”

Auto-Tune is a device that helps poor singers. "Before there was Auto-Tune, there was talent" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Before there was autotune there…

August 7, 2019
Sports/Games

“Before video games we had two world wars”

Does the violence in video games make the world a more violent place? "Before videogames, there were two world wars. Since videogames came along, no more world wars. What does that that tell…

October 1, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Before you buy anything online, ask yourself, ‘Am I prepared to see a sales ad for that item…’”

When you buy something online, there are consequences. "Before you buy anything online ask yourself 'Am I ready to receive spam mails everyday from this website for the rest of my…

June 25, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Before you diagnose yourself with depression, first make sure you’re not surrounded by assholes”

"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The…

September 25, 2014
Work/Businesses

“Before you give a colleague a piece of your mind, make sure you can spare it”

"Before you give a colleague a piece of your mind, make sure you can spare it" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least 2009. Other forms of the saying are much…

May 5, 2015
Work/Businesses

“Before you judge someone, walk a mile in his shoes”

"Before you judge someone, walk a mile in his/her shoes" is a saying that means one should consider another's situation before applying criticism. According to the website…

July 26, 2023
Food/Drink

“Before you lose your shit, remember there’s no wine in prison”

"Before you lose your shit, remember there's no wine in prison" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Before you lose your shit remember there’s no wine in…

February 11, 2017
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Before you marry a person you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet”

American comedienne and actress Whitney Cummings posted on Twitter on February 5, 2012: "Before you marry a person you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet to see who they…

June 6, 2022
Transportation

“Before you marry someone,  go sit in traffic with them for at least 2 hours”

"Before you marry someone, go sit in traffic with them for at least 2 hours" is a saying that has been printed on many images. That is, experience that person when extremely frustrated…

March 25, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Before you pride yourself on being a big fish, make sure you’re not swimming in a puddle”

"Before you pride yourself on being a big fish, make sure you’re not swimming in a puddle" -- a take on the term "big fish in a small pond" -- is a saying that has been…

June 22, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Behead those who insult Islam” (“Behead those who say Islam is violent”)

"Behead those who insult Islam" is quotation from a sign that has appeared at many rallies. The first appearance of the sign was at a February 2006 rally in London, organized in protest…

August 22, 2018
Education/Schools

“Behind every great kid is a mom who’s pretty sure she’s screwing it all up”

"Behind every great kid is a mom who's pretty sure she's screwing it all up" (or "Behind every great kid is a parent who's pretty sure they're screwing it all…

August 22, 2018
Education/Schools

“Behind every great kid is a parent who’s pretty sure they’re screwing it all up”

"Behind every great kid is a mom who's pretty sure she's screwing it all up" (or "Behind every great kid is a parent who's pretty sure they're screwing it all…

July 18, 2015
Work/Businesses

“Behind every great man is a great woman”

"Behind every great man is a great woman" is an old saying of unknown authorship. The following was cited in many newspapers in 1884: "There has nearly always been a good wife behind…

March 13, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes”

“Behind every great man is a great woman” is an old saying from at least the 1880s. "Behind every great/successful man is a woman rolling her eyes" is a jocular saying that has been…

June 4, 2021
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“Behind every great man is the drawer I need to get into. Why are you even in the kitchen right now”

"Behind every great man is a great(er) woman" is an old saying. Women are often in the kitchen -- a place where most men shouldn't be. This jocular variation was posted on Twitter by…

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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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