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July 12, 2017
Education/Schools

“Every year, hundreds of kids are shipped off to mime school, never to be heard from again”

"Every year, hundreds of kids are shipped off to mime school, never to be heard from again" is a jocular saying about noisy students. "Hundreds of kids are shipped off to Mime…

June 12, 2021
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Everybody bites on the Big Apple” lyric in the Cat Stevens song “New York Times” (1978)

"New York Times" is a song on the album Back to Earth (1978) by Cat Stevens. He would convert to Islam and take a long break from music, and his next album (credited to "Yusuf/Cat…

June 12, 2021
The Big Apple1970s: Big Apple Revival

“Everybody bites on the Big Apple” lyric in the Cat Stevens song “New York Times” (1978)

"New York Times" is a song on the album Back to Earth (1978) by Cat Stevens. He would convert to Islam and take a long break from music, and his next album (credited to "Yusuf/Cat…

August 27, 2013
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Everybody has two businesses—his own business and show business”

"Everybody/Everyone has two businesses -- his own and show business" is one of the oldest entertainment sayings. "Thoughtless souls who mouth the old wheeze that everyone has two…

July 28, 2023
Work/Businesses

“Everybody hates math until that paycheck looks a little funny”

"Everybody hates math until that paycheck looks a little funny" is a saying that has been printed on many images. That is, when the paycheck isn't adding up (looking a little short…

July 28, 2023
Work/Businesses

“Everybody hates math until that paycheck looks funny now y’all know Calculus”

"Everybody hates math until that paycheck looks a little funny" is a saying that has been printed on many images. That is, when the paycheck isn't adding up (looking a little short…

February 21, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthNeighborhoods

“Everybody hates white people, but everybody wants to live in their neighborhood”

"'Everybody hates white people, but everybody wants to live in their neighborhood.'-Joe (latino)" was posted on Facebook by Lewis Newman on February 7, 2021. "Let me get…

February 8, 2025
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“Everybody is an atheist until they clog a toilet at someone else house.—Sun Tzu”

"Everyone's an atheist until they clog a toilet at someone else house. -- Sun Tzu" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. It's embarrassing to need help to…

January 29, 2026
Time/Weather

“Everybody keeps using ‘snode’ as the past tense of snow when really it should be ‘snew’”

"It snode" (for "it snowed") is a snow spelling/saying/meme that has been printed on many images. "It snew" has also been used and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary…

November 6, 2011
Work/Businesses

“Everybody makes mistakes—that’s why they put erasers on pencils”

"Everybody makes mistakes -- that's why they put erasers on pencils" (or "that's why pencils have erasers") is a saying that dates to at least 1915. The saying is used…

January 29, 2019
Neighborhoods

“Everybody ought to have a Lower East Side in their life”

American composer and lyricist Irving Berlin (1888-1989) grew up in extreme poverty in Manhattan's Lower East Side. However, he enjoyed many friendships and the cultural richness that the…

May 9, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Everybody says stealing is wrong. Personally, I don’t buy it”

"Everybody says stealing is wrong. Personally, I don't buy it" is a joke about stealing. The joke was posted on Twitter on June 14, 2011. TwitterPaul. Just Paul.‏…

June 10, 2015
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“Everybody wants to be a diamond, but very few are willing to get cut”

"Everybody wants to be a diamond, but very few are willing to get cut" is a motivational saying that has been printed on posters. The saying was popularized by American author Eric…

June 10, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Everybody wants to be a patriot until it’s time to do patriot shit”

"Everyone wants to be a patriot until it's time to do patriot shit/stuff/things" (or "Everyone say they're a patriot until it's time to do patriot…

August 22, 2018
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“Everybody wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change the toilet paper roll”

"Everybody/Everyone wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change the toilet paper roll" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "Nobody wants to change the…

August 11, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Everybody wants to eat at the government’s table, but nobody wants to do the dishes”

"Everybody wants to eat at the government's table, but nobody wants to do the dishes" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least 1972 (when it was not credited…

September 17, 2014
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Everybody wants to get into the act”

"Everybody wants to get into the act" (or "Everybody wants ta get inta da act") was a catchphrase of Manhattan-born comedian and entertainer Jimmy Durante (1893-1980). The song…

October 19, 2025
Food/Drink

“Everybody wants to hear those 3 little words whispered to them. Biscuits and gravy”

"Everybody wants to hear those 3 little words whispered to them. Biscuits and gravy" is a food saying that has been printed on many images. The "three little words" usually have…

June 20, 2015
Work/Businesses

“Everybody wants to shine, but no one wants to polish”

"Everybody/Everyone wants to shine, but no one wants to polish" means that everyone wants the rewards, but no one wants to put in the hard work. "Everyone wants to shine, but no one…

May 16, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Everyone brings joy to this office. Some when they enter, others when they leave”

"Everyone brings happiness/joy to this office. Some when they enter, others when they leave" is a work saying that has been printed on many images. The origin appears to be this, from the…

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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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