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October 24, 2018
Food/Drink

“A cactus is really just an aggressive cucumber”

"A cactus is really just an aggressive cucumber" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was posted on Reddit -- Shower Thoughts on December 20, 2013. “A cactus is…

November 14, 2017
Food/Drink

“A calzone is the socially acceptable way for someone to eat a whole pizza”

A calzone has been called a folded pizza. "Why is it that if you eat a whole pizza you are criticized but if you eat a calzone, not s'much?" was posted on Twitter on August 14, 2009.…

January 4, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“A camel is a horse designed by a committee”

Committee decision-making has been criticized for producing ugly, generic results. "A camel is a horse designed/planned by a committee" is a phrase of unknown authorship that became…

June 15, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A campaign for re-election is a referendum on the incumbent”

A popular political adage is that a re-election campaign is "a referendum on the incumbent." The challenger is looked at secondarily, but the primary focus of an election is the…

February 27, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A Canadian is an unarmed American with health insurance”

The classic definition of a Canadian in the 1990s and 2000s was "an unarmed American with health insurance." "Definition - Canadian: An unarmed American, with health insurance"…

May 27, 2013
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“A cannibal is a person who walks into a restaurant and orders a waiter” (joke)

"A cannibal is a person who walks into a restaurant and orders a waiter" is a joke that has been attributed to American television actor and comedian Morey Amsterdam (1908-1996) since…

November 24, 2019
Names/Phrases

“A car is useless in New York, essential everywhere else. The same with good manners”

American journalist and author Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) wrote in The Second Neurotic's Notebook (1966) and The Complete Neurotic's Notebook (1981): "A car is useless in New…

May 26, 2020
Radio/Television

“A cardiology video is totally clips of the heart”

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" (1983) is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. It is not called "Totally Clips of the Heart," but there are jokes. "My cardiac surgeon…

December 14, 2014
Transportation

“A careful driver is one who just saw the car ahead of him get a traffic ticket”

"A careful driver is one who just saw the car ahead of him get a ticket" is a jocular saying that has been popular on Twitter. The joke, however, is an old one. "A careful driver is…

July 24, 2019
Work/Businesses

“A case of the Mondays” (school/work saying)

"A case of the Mondays" -- Monday is often the first day of the school/work week -- is a saying that has been printed on many images. "A case of the Mondays was said three times in…

November 17, 2017
Work/Businesses

“A cashier asked me if I wanted paper or plastic. I said, ‘Just put the money in a bag!!’”

A cashier often gives a customer a choice of bags and asks, "Paper or plastic?" A joke situation occurs when a robber asks to put money in a bag. "Robber: put the money in the bag!!…

August 11, 2017
Pets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“A cat walks into a bar…” (bar joke)

"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A cat version has a cat request a drink, knock it over, and then request another drink.…

June 27, 2017
Workers/People

“A celebrity is a person who is known for his well-knownness”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikiquote: Daniel J. BoorstinDaniel J. Boorstin (October 1, 1914 – February 28, 2004) was an American historian, professor, attorney and author. He served as Librarian…

May 14, 2019
Workers/People

“A celebrity works hard to be well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized”

“A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized" is a jocular definition that has been printed on many images.…

June 28, 2016
Sports/Games

“A champion is someone who is willing to be uncomfortable” (“Be comfortable being uncomfortable”)

Several people have said that one should be "comfortable being uncomfortable." The book Setting Goals (1983) by John Renesch asked, " Are you willing to be uncomfortable (like any…

January 13, 2015
Sports/Games

“A champion team will always beat a team of champions”

"A champion team will always beat a team of champions" is a sports adage that has been popular in Australia, but also has been used in the United States. The saying means that a team of…

September 7, 2022
Food/Drink

“A charcuterie board is just a deconstructed pepperoni pizza”

A pepperoni pizza has been compared to charcuterie. A pepperoni pizza Lunchable has also been compared to charcuterie. "A pepperoni pizza luncheable is just a portable charcuterie board wake…

April 19, 2022
Food/Drink

“A cheese grater implies the existence of a cheese lesser”

"Cheese grater" does not mean "cheese greater." There is no "cheese lesser," but there are jokes. "the name 'cheese lesser' never would've caught…

April 20, 2022
Food/Drink

“A cheese grater makes cheese lesser”

"Cheese grater" does not mean "cheese greater." There is no "cheese lesser," but there are jokes. "the name 'cheese lesser' never would've caught…

March 20, 2021
Food/Drink

“A cheese omelette is an egg quesadilla”

An omelette has been compared to an egg quesadilla. "Omelets are just egg quesadillas" was posted on Twitter by Dolph Buttermaker on December 2, 2012. "Omelettes are just egg…

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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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