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October 27, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“First get on, then get honor, then get honest”

"A lawyer must first get on, then get honor, and then get honest" is an old legal saying, usually given "anonymous" authorship. The saying has been recorded in print by at least…

August 29, 2018
Food/Drink

“First I drink the coffee. Then I do the things”

"First I drink the coffee. Then I do the things" is a coffee saying that has been printed on many images. "First I drink the coffee then I do the things" was posted on Twitter…

August 29, 2018
Food/Drink

“First I drink the coffee. Then I save the lives”

"First I drink the coffee. Then I do the things" is a coffee saying that has been printed on many images. "First I drink the coffee then I do the things" was posted on Twitter…

August 29, 2018
Education/Schools

“First I drink the coffee. Then I teach the kids”

"First I drink the coffee. Then I do the things" is a coffee saying that has been printed on many images. "First I drink the coffee then I do the things" was posted on Twitter…

June 23, 2013
Sports/Games

“First is first and second is last” (sports adage)

"First is first and second is last" has been cited in print since at least March 1980, when it was credited to American Olympic swimmer Steve Lundquist. Lundquist -- an Olympic gold…

July 28, 2015
Sports/Games

“First is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the treasure chest”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksThe Australian Mathematics TeacherVolumes 41-421985Pg. ?:The following incomplete rhyme is popular in our neighbourhood: First the worst, second the best,…

October 15, 2021
Holidays/Events/Parades

“First rule of family gatherings, always bring your own vehicle so you can leave when you want”

"1st rule of family gatherings always bring your own vehicle so you can leave when you want" was posted on Twitter by CARI on January 12, 2019. The tweet received over 110,000 likes, and…

December 23, 2019
Holidays/Events/Parades

“First rule of family gatherings: Always bring your own vehicle so you can leave when you want”

"First rule of family gatherings: Always bring your own vehicle so you can leave when you want" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "First rule of family…

August 21, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“First rule of gun safety: Never let the government take your guns”

"The first rule of gun safety is to never let the government take your guns" is a pro-gun saying that has been printed on many images. "The first rule of firearm safety is to never…

September 6, 2024
Work/Businesses

“First rule of might club: never commit to plans”

"The first rule about fight club is you don't talk about fight club" is a saying in the novel Fight Club (1996) and the 1999 film. "First rule of might club: never commit to…

July 8, 2018
Food/Drink

“First Rule of Turkey Club: Bacon, lettuce and tomato”

"The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club" is a famous line in the movie Fight Club (1999). Several jokes explain the first rule of a "Turkey Club…

September 23, 2017
Food/Drink

“First rule of Vegan Club: You tell everyone about Vegan Club”

Vegans have a reputation of telling everyone that they're vegans. “How do you know if someone is a vegan?"/"Don’t worry, they’ll tell you" is a popular joke. "First…

August 12, 2011
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“First the free market dies, then dies democracy”

Folker Hellmeyer, the chief strategist with Bremer Landesbank, was quoted on a German website on October 12, 2008: "Erst stirbt der freie Markt, dann stirbt die Demokratie.""First…

September 8, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win”

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win" has been attributed to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), but there is no evidence that he said it.…

July 16, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“First we overlook evil. Then we permit evil. Then we legalize evil. Then we promote evil…”

Fr. Dwight Longenecker posted on Twitter on October 31, 2019: "First we overlook evil. Then we permit evil. Then we legalize evil. Then we promote evil. Then we celebrate evil. Then we…

October 18, 2012
Work/Businesses

“First-rate people hire first-rate people; second-rate people hire third-rate people”

"First-rate people hire first-rate people; second-rate people hire third-rate people" is a business saying meaning that one should always hire the best people. Leo Rosten (1908-1997), an…

June 24, 2018
Food/Drink

“Fish make excellent brain food, probably because they travel in schools”

"It is said that fish is an excellent brain food. It is probably because they travel in schools" is a pun that was printed in the Philipsburg (MT) Mail on August 10, 1893. "Fish make…

August 23, 2020
Food/Drink

“Fish n’ chips should always come with tartar sauce. It’s basically codified law”

"Codification" has to do with "code" and not "cod" (a fish), but there are jokes. "Note to self: When something's been 'codified', that does NOT…

June 1, 2022
Food/Drink

“Fish sticks are the chicken nuggets of seafood”

Fish sticks have been compared to chicken nuggets. "Fish sticks are the chicken nuggets of the sea" was posted on Twitter by Shy Mall? on March 5, 2012. "Fish sticks are the chicken…

June 1, 2022
Food/Drink

“Fish sticks are the chicken nuggets of the sea”

Fish sticks have been compared to chicken nuggets. "Fish sticks are the chicken nuggets of the sea" was posted on Twitter by Shy Mall? on March 5, 2012. "Fish sticks are the chicken…

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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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