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September 27, 2014
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“He made so many of them” (Daily News Building quote)

"He made so many of them" is a quote on the Daily News Building at 220 East 42nd Street in Manhattan. The New York (NY) Daily News occupied the building from 1930 until 1995. although its…

October 4, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“He may be a son of a bitch, but he’s our son of a bitch”

"He may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch" is what a political constituency (such as a political party or a cultural group) says of its own tarnished politician. This…

September 30, 2016
Education/Schools

“He may not be in a class by himself, but it doesn’t take long to call the roll”

Houston Oilers Coach Bum Phillips (1923-2013) said of his star running back Earl Campbell in November 1979: "Earl may not be in a class by himself, but whatever class he's in, it…

November 13, 2020
Food/Drink

“he problem with coffee is trying to make it when you haven’t had any yet”

TwitterSarah Brodeur@sarahjbrodeurthe problem with coffee is trying to make it when you haven't had any yet8:30 AM · Aug 7, 2011·Twitter Web Client TwitterGabriela…

November 21, 2015
Sports/Games

“He puts his pants on one leg at a time” (he’s human)

A popular sports expression is that an opposing star player "puts his pants on one leg at a time" -- that is, he's still human, like everyone else. "The Tech team Is just like…

August 19, 2018
Food/Drink

“He said his non-alcoholic wine was delicious, I said he had no proof”

"He said his non-alcoholic wine was delicious, I said he had no proof" -- non-alcoholic wine has, literally, zero proof -- is a wine joke that was posted on The Majestic Wine Blog on…

January 8, 2017
Food/Drink

“He said, ‘You remind me of a pepper pot.’ I said, ‘I’ll take that as a condiment’”

A top British pun (confusing "condiment" with "compliment") has been cited in print since at least 2001: "He said: 'You remind me of a pepper pot' I said:…

July 5, 2015
Sports/Games

“He should be left back…in the changing rooms” (soccer joke)

A position in soccer (or "football") is the full-back; there are positions of centre-back, right-back and left-back. A popular joke is told about a poor player -- "He should be left…

April 12, 2016
Names/Phrases

“He speaks English with the flawless imperfection of a New Yorker”

Gilbert Millstein (1915-1999) wrote about Manhattan's famed French restaurant Lutèce (at 249 East 50th Street from 1961 to 2004) in Esquire magazine in January 1962: "He (founder Andre…

August 5, 2013
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“He squeezes a nickel so tight the Indian cries” (he’s cheap)

The "Buffalo nickel" or "Indian Head nickel" is a U.S. five-cent piece with a buffalo design on one side and an Indian head design on the other; the coin was minted from 1913 to…

August 5, 2013
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“He squeezes a quarter so tight the eagle screams” (he’s cheap)

Many versions of the U.S. quarter --as well as other coins -- have an eagle on one side. Someone who doesn't like to spend money is said to "squeeze a quarter so tight the eagle…

December 14, 2011
Sports/Games

“He stops, pops and it drops” (basketball phrase)

"He stops. pops, and it drops" is a basketball announcer's call for a player taking and making a jump shot. The Albert brothers (Marv Albert, Al Albert and Steve Albert) all…

April 29, 2025
Food/Drink

“He threw sodium chloride at me! That’s a salt!”

"A salt" sounds like "assault," and there are sodium chloride jokes that have been printed on many images. "Some one just threw a bag of sodium Chloride at me! That's…

December 5, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“He was addicted to cowboy line dancing and entered a two-step program”

A popular joke is told about the Texas two-step: "My best friend became addicted to country line dancing. It got so bad he had to enter a two-step program." Versions of the joke date to…

January 12, 2016
Education/Schools

“He wears glasses during math because it improves division”

A popular math pun on the word "division" is: "He wears glasses during math because it improves division." The joke has been cited in print since at least 2001. Google Groups:…

October 8, 2020
Food/Drink

“He went on a cheese diet in order to cheddar few pounds”

"Cheddar" sounds a bit like "shed a." "He went on a cheese diet in order to cheddar few pounds. (Pun of the Day)" was posted on the newsgroup alt.callahans on July 27,…

January 15, 2016
Sports/Games

“He who casts the first stone…isn’t coming fishing again”

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" is from the New Testament John 8:7. "Cast" is also a fishing term. "He who casts the first stone...really…

June 26, 2020
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“He who controls the memes controls the universe”

"Who controls the memes controls the world" was posted on Twitter by Jaya (1=(∞/0)) on January 30, 2009. "'He who controls the memes controls the world.' - Julius…

February 29, 2024
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“He who controls the memes controls the universe”

"Who controls the memes controls the universe" (or "He who controls the memes controls the universe") is a saying that has been printed on many images. X/Twitter Elon Musk…

June 27, 2020
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“He who controls the memes controls the world”

"Who controls the memes controls the world" was posted on Twitter by Jaya (1=(∞/0)) on January 30, 2009. "'He who controls the memes controls the world.' - Julius…

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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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